Responding to Victims of Terrorism and Mass Violence Crimes: Coordination and Collaboration Between American Red Cross Workers and Crime Victim Service Providers

• NCJ Number: 209681
• Date Published: September 2005
• Length: 19 pages
• Grant Number(s): OJP-2001-253-M
• Agencies: OVC
• Publication Type: Technical Assistance

Annotation

This booklet explains the distinctive and complementary roles of the American Red Cross (ARC) and the Federal Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) in responding to the needs of victims of terrorism and mass violence crimes.

Abstract

The deceased, survivors, and bereaved family members in a terrorism attack or other event of mass violence may be eligible for both State and Federal victim services and ARC disaster services. Although ARC disaster operations are activated based on the impact of a disaster rather than its cause, the services of OVC and State and local crime-victim assistance programs are activated only when there is significant indication that a disaster has been caused by a criminal act. When both ARC and crime victim service agencies are involved in responding to victims of criminal acts that have a multitude of victims, planned coordination of each agency's efforts means more effective and efficient services for victims. This booklet provides guidance toward this end by first explaining how natural disasters are similar to and different from disasters caused by criminal behavior. It then describes how ARC workers assist victims of terrorism and mass-violence crimes. This is followed by an overview of the mission and functions of the U.S. Justice Department's Office for Victims of Crime. Another section of the booklet describes the types of crime-victim assistance and services bereaved family members and survivors receive following criminal events with mass casualties. The booklet concludes with a discussion of the significance of the criminal justice system for victims of terrorism and mass violence. 13 references and resources