Introduction
With advancing technology, widespread use of the Internet, increased
international tourism, and overseas job opportunities, issues of violent
crime and mass victimization have become a major concern for agencies
serving victims in the United States and abroad. In addition, the threat
of terrorism against Americans worldwide has increased in recent years.
New types of weapons of mass destruction such as chemical and biological
agents pose significant challenges for those charged with responding to
victims of terrorist attacks. In response to these emerging issues, the
Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) created the Terrorism and International
Victims Unit (TIVU).
TIVU is responsible for developing programs and initiatives to help victims
of terrorism, mass violence, and crimes that have transnational dimensions,
such as trafficking of women and children and international child abduction.
TIVU coordinates OVC resources and funding for victims of terrorism and
transnational crimes and administers a new compensation program for victims
of international terrorism. TIVU also seeks to further integrate crime
victim issues into international discussions.
Services to
Victims
TIVU provides the following services to victims of crime:
- Provides information and benefits to U.S. nationals and Federal Government
employees who are victims of terrorism abroad. Victims are given assistance
in accessing services, which may include traveling to trials and briefings,
and obtaining information on the criminal justice process.
- Makes OVC resources available to assist victims of terrorism, from
the crisis response stage to posttrial proceedings.
- Serves as OVCs liaison to the U.S. Department of State and other
federal agencies responsible for providing information and assistance
to U.S. citizens victimized abroad and information regarding victim
assistance resources to U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide.
- Serves as OVCs liaison to foreign embassies and consulates in
the United States to provide information on victim assistance resources
when foreign citizens are victimized in the United States.
- Helps fund efforts to recover children abducted and taken outside
U.S. borders.
Compensation
and Assistance Resources
TIVU provides the following resources to compensate and assist victims
of crime:
- TIVU administers the International Terrorism Victims Compensation
Program, which allows U.S. nationals and Federal Government employees
who become victims of terrorism abroad to apply to a single federal
office to obtain compensation. In fall 2000, the 106th Congress passed
the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act, which provides
aid for victims of terrorism and expands OVCs authority to respond
to incidents of terrorism outside the United States. In essence, the
program seeks to address the unique needs and circumstances of international
terrorism victims.
- More and more countries are developing programs that provide compensation
to victims of crime. In response, TIVU is working with the U.S. State
Department to update and maintain an International Crime Victim Compensation
Program Directory. The directory, which was created to link victims
abroad to available resources, lists crime victim compensation programs
in various foreign countries. Available programs, eligibility requirements,
application procedures, and compensable expenses covered by the responding
countries and the United States are described in the directory. It is
available from the OVC Resource Center at 18008513420
(TTY 18777129279) and via OVCs
Web site.
- TIVU administers the Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program
for Terrorism and Mass Violence Victims. OVC developed guidelines
to implement the victim assistance and compensation provisions contained
in the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, the Omnibus
Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997; the Victims of Trafficking
and Violence Protection Act of 2000; the USA Patriot Act of 2001; and
the Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations Act of 2002. Under these
guidelines, funding is available to provide compensation and assistance
to victims of acts of terrorism or mass violence within the United States
and assistance to U.S. citizens and government employees who are victims
of terrorism and mass violence abroad. Funding may be used to provide
a wide range of services and respond to the immediate and ongoing challenges
of serving victims in the aftermath of terrorism and mass violence.
Programs and
Initiatives
TIVU is involved in a number of programs and initiatives with other federal
agencies and nonprofit organizations to enhance the assistance provided
to victims of terrorism, mass violence, and international crimes. The
following is a list of TIVUs programs and initiatives:
- Federal Interagency Protocols for Responding to Victims
of Terrorism. OVC, through TIVU, has taken a leadership role in
developing a federal protocol to ensure a more effective and timely
response to victims of terrorism. Terrorism crimes tend to involve large
numbers of victims and may include employees of various federal agencies,
tourists, business representatives, and foreign nationals. Coordination
within the Federal Government to respond to victims needs and
facilitate access to emergency relief and ongoing services is crucial.
Recent international terrorist attacks against the United States highlighted
many of the unique and complex problems in organizing an appropriate
short- and long-term response to victims of international terrorism
and victims of terrorism within U.S. borders.
- Training and Technical Assistance. TIVU and the Emergency Services
and Disaster Relief Branch of the Center for Mental Health Services
(CMHS) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are developing
training for mental health services providers on assisting victims of
terrorism and mass violence. CMHS, which already delivers training and
technical assistance to mental health services providers on working
with natural disaster victims, conducted an assessment of current research,
literature, and practices regarding the mental health needs of terrorism
victims. CMHS is incorporating the information and programs that address
criminal mass victimization into existing training programs and will
train victim assistance providers on the mental health needs of terrorism
victims.
TIVU and the Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP) are collaborating
to provide training and technical assistance to enhance the capacity
of first responders to deal effectively with victims of domestic and
international terrorism involving weapons of mass destruction. The initiative
will include the development of educational materials and a national
training and exercise program to help first responders support victims
of terrorist incidents.
- Criminal Crisis Response Initiative (CCRI). TIVU provides
funding to the Jefferson Institute for Justice Studies (JIJS) in Washington,
D.C., to develop CCRI, a community-based assessment and planning process
to help states and local communities design and implement a strategic
plan for responding to victims of criminal mass violence. Thus far,
JIJS has identified communities that have existing response plans, developed
a community action plan and program implementation guide, and started
working with communities nationwide to help them develop crisis response
plans.
- Oklahoma City Bombing. OVC, through TIVU, continues to support
the efforts of Oklahoma City as the community recovers from the April
19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, which killed
168 people and injured more than 850 others. Most recently, TIVU coordinated
with the Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide support to the victims
during Timothy McVeighs execution. As other issues arise, TIVU
will coordinate with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western
District of Oklahoma and various appropriate agencies.
- Federal and Nongovernmental Agency Coordination. TIVU
works closely with a number of other federal agencies, including the
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Department of State, U.S.
Agency for International Development, U.S. Attorneys Offices,
U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, Office for Domestic Preparedness,
and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), to enhance existing
services and develop initiatives to help victims of terrorism. In addition,
TIVU is developing working relationships with the Federal Emergency
Management Agency and the American Red Cross on issues surrounding victims
of domestic and international terrorism.
- International Parental Abductions. The U.S. Departments of
Justice and State have a cooperative agreement with the National Center
for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to track kidnaped children
taken across international borders and to help their parents obtain
lawful custody under the Hague Conventions treaty on international
child abductions. To assist in this effort, TIVU makes funding available
to NCMEC to help parents with inadequate resources travel abroad to
retrieve their children and return to the United States.
- International Trafficking of Women and Children. OVC
is working in a number of areas to address the needs of victims who
are trafficked across U.S. borders for exploitative purposes. OVC staff
serve on several departmental task forces that are working on issues
related to the international trafficking of women and children.
- United Nations Crime Commission and Other International
Bodies. TIVU staff participate in the annual United Nations Commission
on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Vienna, Austria. The United
States cosponsored resolutions to foster implementation of the 1985
United Nations Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims
of Crime and Abuse of Power. In addition, OVC took the lead in coordinating
the development of the United Nations Handbook on Justice for Victims
and the accompanying United Nations Guide for Policy Makers on
implementing the principles set forth in the declaration in countries
around the world.
- Conference Activities. TIVU sponsors and participates in numerous
conferences to highlight the issues surrounding victims of terrorism
and international crimes. Such activities have included
- A symposium on Journalism in the Face of Terrorism, which
sought to improve the accuracy and clarity of information transmitted
to victims and the public after a terrorist attack. Symposium attendees
included leading journalists and government officials.
- A conference on International Terrorism, Victims Rights,
and the Lockerbie Trial, which assessed the international cooperation
in prosecuting terrorism in the Pan Am Flight 103 Lockerbie criminal
trial and in providing victims rights and services.
International
Visitors
TIVU provides technical assistance and briefings to visitors from around
the world who are interested in victim assistance efforts in the United
States.
OVC recently hosted internship programs for two attorneys, from Japan
and Israel, who were studying victims rights and services in the
United States. The primary goal of these internships was to allow the
interns to identify promising practices and model programs that could
be replicated in their countries. OVC, through TIVU, will continue to
host internship programs and conduct briefings for foreign visitors.
Terrorist
Acts
OVC has supported victims and families of the following terrorist attacks:
- Attack on America. In response to the terrorist acts of September
11, 2001, TIVU has played a key role in OVCs response to victims
and their families in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. As of the
date of this publication, TIVU has been involved in the creation of
the OVC Victim and Family Assistance Telephone Center which, among other
things, houses a toll-free number for victims to call for various forms
of assistance. TIVU has also participated in the development of a new
DOJ/OVC Web site for victims which provides assistance and helpful information,
including investigative updates, official messages, Web links, news
releases, and publications. Additionally, TIVU is actively involved
in coordinating with other federal and nongovernmental agencies in responding
to victims and their families. TIVU will continue to coordinate services
and assist those affected by these tragic events and future terrorist
attacks.
- The Bombing of Pan Am Flight 103The Lockerbie Criminal
Trial. Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, on December
21, 1988, killing 270 people from 21 nations. In recent years, OVC established
a unique partnership with the Scottish government to ensure that the
Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie families received information and assistance.
The trial against two Libyan defendants in a Scottish court in the Netherlands
began in May 2000. With OVC assistance, family members were able to
travel to the trial and/or watch its proceedings via closed-circuit
television at various remote sites in the United States and the United
Kingdom. In addition, OVC conducted pretrial and posttrial briefings
in the United States and the United Kingdom. OVC set up an international
toll-free telephone line that provided updated information regarding
the trial and linked family members to available assistance. OVC provided
a grant to the Syracuse University College of Law to create and maintain
a secure Web site to provide victims families with information
about and analysis of the criminal trial. The Web site contained background
information on the case, summaries of daily trial proceedings, legal
analysis, information on victim services, and an interactive component
to facilitate questions and answers for family members. OVC also contracted
with Research Planning, Inc., to handle logistical arrangements for
victim travel, prepare a trial information guide for families, and help
OVC document and assess the various services provided to victims.
- Khobar Towers Bombing. Following the bombing of Khobar Towers
in Dharain, Saudi Arabia, on June 25, 1996, OVC ensured that the survivors
of the 19 military service members killed in that attack were aware
of compensation and assistance benefits. OVC, in conjunction with the
FBI, the Department of Defense, and the U.S. Air Force, hosted two briefings
for the surviving family members and established a toll-free hotline
in the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia to provide
information to the families and other victims about the case and the
status of the alleged terrorists.
- East Africa Embassy Bombings. Following the simultaneous bombings
of two U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania on August 7, 1998, OVC transferred
funds to the U.S. State Department to help with emergency needs of victims
and their families. OVC funded and helped organize a 2-day briefing
for victims and their families in Washington, D.C. OVC staff also helped
troubleshoot problems victims were having coordinating benefits and
assistance and used the OVC grantee and subgrantee networks in the states
to locate assistance for victims in their communities or home state
of residence. OVC provided technical assistance to and continues to
fund a victim/witness position in the U.S. Attorneys Office for
the Southern District of New York to act as a point of contact for family
members and victims to receive trial information. OVC also ensured mental
health services for the victims attending the trial through an agreement
with the New York University School of Medicine.
- Bombing of the U.S.S. Cole. OVC provided technical assistance
and funding to the FBI and the U.S. Navy in responding to the victims
and family members of the October 12, 2000, bombing of the U.S.S. Cole
in the port of Aden, Yemen, which killed 17 sailors and injured 39 others.
This support included developing a Web site and a briefing book, a toll-free
telephone number, and victim-sensitive correspondence. OVC also provided
financial assistance to cover expenses for a facility, transportation,
lodging, and per diem for victims families to attend a briefing
in Norfolk, Virginia, the U.S.S. Coles home port.
- Aviation Disasters. OVC has provided ongoing support to Canada
in its victim assistance efforts to prosecute those responsible for
the June 23, 1985, bombing of Air India Flight 182, which left 329 dead,
including 22 Americans. OVC also provided assistance and consultation
regarding victims issues to NTSB following the crash of Egypt
Air Flight 990 off the coast of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, on
October 31, 1999, which killed 217 people.
OVC Resource Center
Response to International Crime Victim Issues
The Office for Victims of Crime Resource Center (OVCRC) is a clearinghouse
for victim-related information, including terrorism and international
crime victim issues. OVCRC produces, collects, maintains, and disseminates
information and resources for victim service providers and allied professionals.
OVCRC recently expanded its international outreach by establishing a link
to international resources on the National
Criminal Justice Reference Service home page. In addition, OVCRC provides
publications and resource materials for a number of international conferences
related to victims of crime.
The following publications are available online:
For more information about OVC's Terrorism and International Victims
Unit, please call 2023075983 or visit OVC's
Web site.
To Contents
Terrorism and International
Victims Unit |
January 2002
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