In addition to the investigation of the case, the homicide detective is responsible for guiding the victim's family through a complicated and confusing criminal justice system. The homicide investigator becomes the advocate for both the deceased and the surviving family throughout case processing. This requires that the detective understand the psychodynamics of the grief process and recognize the value of professional crisis intervention. According to the National Organization for Victim Assistance, the grief stages for homicide survivors consist of various denial behaviors and feelings instinctively designed to mitigate the loss, protest or anger at the injustice and cruelty of the homicide, despair, detachment, and life reconstruction. The grief process is particularly intense in homicide cases due to the sudden and violent nature of the death; it is magnified even further when the victim is a child. The death notification by the homicide officer should be done in person with a uniformed officer. This article provides 22 guidelines for the conduct of the notification. What information and how much detail to provide family members on the case differs from case to case. In the early stages of the investigation, information should be carefully screened so as not to hamper the investigation. As the case progresses, the family should be provided with as much information as possible. The family should be notified immediately if an arrest is made. The detective should prepare family members for all phases of criminal justice processing so as to mitigate potentially painful and inhumane experiences. 11-item bibliography