A program designed to support families with care and humanity during an incredibly difficult time has launched in Connecticut. It's called the Loved Ones Property Return Pilot Program.

It was created by Survivors of Homicide, Inc., a Connecticut-based nonprofit organization that supports, advocates, and provides resources to families and loved ones of homicide victims.

Police departments are provided with branded tote bags and the organization's information card, an alternative to the paper shopping bags used when returning a homicide victim's personal belongings to their family.

"Even though their loved one's belongings may not come back to them for five, six, seven years, when they have to go pick that up, it still re-traumatizes them all over again," said Jessica Pizzano, director of victim services at Survivors of Homicide.

Pizzano also said funding has been difficult, but they were grateful to receive funding in the past year to buy the tote bags and start the program.

The program is currently active at police departments in Wethersfield, Bridgeport, Meriden, Waterbury and New Haven.

"Speaking to moms or family members, siblings, they will always say they will never forget that moment that they are being handed back their loved ones items. If we can do it in a more dignified, careful, respectable manner, I think that's very important as a police department," said Nikki Curry, victim services officer at the New Haven Police Department.

Any police departments interested in participating in the program are encouraged to contact Survivors of Homicide directly.