But the criminal justice system often seems to prolong people's grief. For example, you may find that justice does not always prevail. Sometimes, the guilty are released on procedural grounds. Many homicide cases are never solved or do not result in convictions, even if the identity of the offender is known. Cases may drag on and on.
Many cases never go to trial or take years for a conviction.
It there is a conviction, it likely will be appealed, and a small fraction of cases find their way back to court for another trial. Sometimes they build self-protective barriers which come across to victims as insensitivity. To help you through this ordeal, seek out supportive friends, counselors or advocates. The Fulton County District Attorney's office may be able to provide you with further information about assistance that is available to family members of homicide victims. The rest of your life is the epilogue.