Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office Homicide in Wayne County: An Epidemic in the Black Community

Abstract

The mission of the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office is to determine the cause and manner of death of those who die in Wayne County under the conditions of Act No.92 of the Michigan Public Acts of 1969 (Medical Examiner’s Office). In Wayne County, five manners of death are recognized: Accident, Homicide, Indeterminate, Natural and Suicide (Medical Examiner’s Office). This article will specifically discuss prevalence of homicide cases at WCMEO and the implications of these deaths for Wayne County and the African-American community. As a social work intern, one of the main objectives of the pilot program was to provide support for the families of the decedents. A large majority of the families supported were African-Americans who had lost their loved one due to a homicide. There are a disproportionate number of black males that are victims of homicide in Wayne County. This is a systemic problem and a social justice issue. There is limited research or data available around recent statistics of homicide in the black community, the effect of homicide in the black community, the implications of homicide for the surviving family members, support for surviving homicide family members and a national model for treatment or trauma associated with these losses.