DEATH PENALTY

The ‘Hidden’ Third Parties as Victims
those situations in which losses are slowly manifested over time, and
often do not have an impending ending. Therefore, the loss includes
family members of the developmentally disabled or children who are
born with a life-shortening condition, such as cystic fibrosis. It is the
loss that is continuous and exacerbated by such things as milestones
not met by the affected individual. The continuous nature of the loss
eludes the family member’s ability to go through the stages of grief
to a point of recovery. 3 Authors Bruce and Schultz, who coined the
term, state that the grieving person is lost between two worlds, one
that is known and one that is dreaded.
There are three conditions for nonfinite loss. The first is that the loss
must be continuous and often follows a major event. The second
involves developmental expectations that cannot be met. This is well
illustrated by examining the experiences of parents of developmentally
or physically disabled individuals. These parents grieve when
their children reach an age that carries significant milestones that
cannot be obtained. The last condition described by Bruce and Shultz
is the loss of one’s own hopes and ideals. Those who experience a
nonfinite loss question who they could/should/might have been. 4
When the grief experienced by those families directly affected by
the death penalty is examined, it becomes apparent that many aspects
of their mourning are indicative of a “nonfinite loss.” In all cases, the
pain started after a specific event: the crime and subsequent arrest.
The sudden event then spawns what might be considered the most
overarching experience for family members, which is the continuous
nature of the loss. With each new phase of their loss, including the
arrest, conviction, sentencing, death warrants, numerous failed appeals,
and, in some cases, eventual execution of their loved one, family
members feel as if they are experiencing the loss for the first time. In
terms of sheer years, the length is fairly long. The time between arrest
and execution is often more than 10 years, and throughout the years,
the process of hearings and appeals occur frequently.
3 Bruce, E. J. & Schultz, C.L. 2001. Nonfinite loss and grief: A psychoeducational approach. Baltimore:
Paul H. Brooks.
4 Ibid.
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