Offence of one family member as a factor affecting wellbeing of family community

Abstract

Every criminal act concerns not only the offender - victim relation but also affects other members of both families. The present paper examines the impact made by the offence committed by one family member on the functioning of the entire family. The families free from pathological and dysfunctional factors negatively react to the offences committed by their members. These traumatic experiences influence their psychic and physical condition, including their sense of wellbeing. Frequently, the offence of one family member stigmatizes the family as deviant, socially maladapted and disturbed, which does not have to be the case. In consequence, social stigmatization may cause psychic and moral suffering and influence the sense of wellbeing these families may experience. The offence of one family member makes an impact on interpersonal relations in the family and on their perception of the places favored before, described as a 'small homeland'. Often the offender's family may need support that can be provided by social work in the broad sense of the term.