Bereaved Families - Guidance on CPS service to bereaved families in homicide cases
Plain-English digest of CPS prosecution guidance.
AI-generated summary — not verbatim. This is a plain-English digest, not the official CPS text. It may omit detail or fall out of date. Do not rely on it for a charging decision — read the full guidance on cps.gov.uk and check the current legislation.
This guidance outlines the CPS's commitment to providing support to bereaved families in homicide cases, ensuring they are engaged throughout the criminal justice process. It specifies procedures for communication, meetings, and the roles assigned to family liaison officers, with a focus on transparency around charging decisions, court processes, and potential outcomes. The guidance establishes standards for offering a meeting to bereaved families prior to and following charging decisions, conviction, or acquittal, reinforcing the importance of family involvement and support during these critical stages.
Key points
- CPS offers enhanced services to bereaved families during key stages of the CJS process.
- Meetings are to be offered in all qualifying homicide cases unless there are exceptional reasons.
- The same prosecutor should ideally be allocated throughout the case to provide continuity.
- Communication must be clear, timely, and personalized, with full documentation on CMS.
- Family Liaison Officers play a crucial role in facilitating communication between prosecutors and bereaved families.
Public-interest factors
- Protecting the integrity of the legal process.
- Ensuring the bereaved family's voices are considered in proceedings.
- Supporting families through their trauma and legal complexities.
- Maintaining public confidence in the justice system.
This is a factual digest of guidance published by the Crown Prosecution Service. Digested 2026-07-15. BlueLineHub is independent and not affiliated with the CPS.