Victim Issues

An Argument for Documenting Casualties: Violence Against Iraqi Civilians 2006 (PDF)
RAND Corporation, 2008
Protecting the civilian population is one of the central tenets of U.S. counterinsurgency doctrine. Until very recently, however, the U.S. military has not had a formal system for documenting the level of violence directed against Iraqi civilians. Other groups such as nongovernmental organizations, the United Nations, and Iraqi ministries have filled the vacuum in reporting, relying on media accounts, surveys, death certificates, and other open-source information to generate datasets of varying transparency and quality. This report proposes a framework for better data collection on civilian casualties.

Children Exposed to Violence: Criminal Justice Resources
Office for Victims of Crime, June 1999
This bulletin focuses public attention on crimes and violence that directly affect and confront children. It describes public- and private-sector resources that can help the criminal and juvenile justice systems respond to child victims and witnesses of violence.

Community Crisis Response
Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), August 1999
This fact sheet provides an overview of OVC's strategy to help states and communities prepare crisis response plans that include emergency counseling and intervention and long-term mental health services for victims and surviving family members.

Community Crisis Response Team Training Manual
Office for Victims of Crime, September 1998
This manual outlines methods and tactics communities can use to prepare for and respond to crisis situations. It was developed as a training guide for individuals and communities interested in coordinating a crisis response team.

Compassion Fatigue following the September 11 Terrorist Attacks: A Study of Secondary Trauma among New York City Social Workers
Joseph A. Boscarino, Charles R. Figley, and Richard E. Adams, 2004
Experience suggests that individuals who work in the caring and psychotherapeutic professions are among those to provide mental health services to disaster victims who suffer from psychological trauma. Yet, few studies have focused on the emotional exhaustion that can ensue from working with such clients, referred to as compassion fatigue (CF) in this study. This report discusses how CF differs from other occupational hazards, such as secondary trauma (ST) and job burnout.

Compensation for Losses from the 9/11 Attacks (PDF)
RAND Corporation, November 2004
This report examines the benefits received by those who were seriously injured and by the families of those who were killed in the 9/11 attacks and the benefits provided to individuals and businesses in New York City due to the attack on the World Trade Center.

Facing Fear: Helping Young People Deal With Terrorism and Other Tragic Events
American Red Cross, April 2003
The Facing Fear curriculum is designed to help children deal with manmade disasters, such as those that could be caused by terrorist acts. It augments the Masters of Disaster program, which focuses on disaster safety and preparedness in natural events. To learn more, download a free version of the Facing Fear kit for grades K� 3� 6� or 9� or contact your local Red Cross office.

Final Report of the Special Master for the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 (PDF)
U.S. Department of Justice, 2004
This report provides details of the activities of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, including extensive accounting of the fund's operation and administration and an accounting of the claims resolved. Volume 1 contains the bulk of the report; volume 2 contains the exhibits.

First Response to Victims of Crime
Office for Victims of Crime, December 2001
This handbook for law enforcement officers describes how to approach and help different types of crime victims. It is designed as a field guide for personnel who respond first to crime victims and includes contacts for assistance.

From Pain to Power: Crime Victims Take Action
Office for Victims of Crime, September 1998
This publication chronicles ways that many crime victims heal themselves by channeling their pain into helping others and improving their communities. It describes opportunities for victims who want to become active in their communities and recommends ways for victim service programs to involve victims in community service.

Guidance on Dealing with Fatalities in Emergencies (PDF)
Home Office (United Kingdom), May 2004
This report offers guidance in how to enhance existing plans, processes, and infrastructures so that first responders can better handle varying scales and complexities of mass fatality incidents at the local, regional, or national levels. It relates to positions in England and Wales where planning and response often lie with local authorities.

Identifying Victims Using DNA: A Guide for Families (PDF)
National Institute of Justice, April 2005
This booklet explains the process of using DNA analysis to identify human remains to help surviving family members and friends understand what DNA analysis can and cannot do. It also describes the sources of DNA that forensic scientists might use and the differences between them.

The International Terrorism Victim Expense Reimbursement Program Report to Congress
Office for Victims of Crime, February 2006
Victims of acts of international terrorism occurring outside the United States often face unique obstacles in securing assistance, expense reimbursement, emergency transportation and short-term lodging, and appropriate medical and mental health care. Congress authorized the International Terrorism Victim Expense Reimbursement Program (ITVERP) to ensure that victims of international terrorism may receive reimbursement for their expenses associated with that act. This OVC Report to Congress outlines the challenges and obstacles faced in developing ITVERP, details the groundwork laid thus far, and discusses the emergency assistance provided to victims in the interim while program regulations are being finalized.

Lawsuits Against State Supporters of Terrorism: An Overview (PDF)
Congressional Research Service, March 28, 2005
American victims of international terrorists' acts that were supported by designated state supporters of terrorism桟uba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, and, until recently, Iraq梙ave been able to bring law suits in federal courts to seek monetary damages. A recent court decision invalidating plaintiffs' cause of action, however, raises uncertainties about the future of these lawsuits. This report provides an overview of relevant issues and a brief synopsis of pertinent legislative proposals.

Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Crime Victims (video)
Office for Victims of Crime, October 1997
This 40-minute video presents a panel discussion that includes two nationally recognized experts in the field of mental health. Findings from current mental health research are presented, including issues involved with crime-related psychological trauma of crime victims, identification of the major types of immediate and short-term trauma associated with crime victimization, factors related to victims' healing and recovery, and how the criminal and juvenile justice systems can address the needs of traumatized crime victims.

Meeting the Needs of the Victims of the September 11th Terrorist Attacks: Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2002 (PDF)
Office for Victims of Crime, April 2003
This report covers the Office for Victims of Crime use of the monies authorized by Congress in the Defense Appropriations Act of 2002 to assist victims of 9/11.

Mental Health and Mass Violence: Evidence-Based Early Psychological Intervention for Victims/Survivors of Mass Violence: A Workshop to Reach Consensus on Best Practices (PDF)
National Institute of Mental Health, 2002
This report is aimed at those who conduct psychological interventions with emotionally distressed persons following mass violence, those who research violence-related issues, and employers who want to help workers who have experienced this type of emotional trauma. It is also intended to aid officials who must decide what mental health assistance to include in local, state, and national responses to survivors of mass violence and terrorism. This report details what is effective and what questions require further research. Print copies are available by calling 301-443-4513 or by e-mail at nimhinfo@nih.gov.

Mental Health Response to Mass Violence and Terrorism: A Training Manual (PDF)
Office for Victims of Crime and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2004
This manual contains the basics of what mental health care providers, crime victim assistance professionals, and faith-based counselors need to know to provide appropriate mental health support following incidents involving criminal mass victimization. The manual includes field and training resources such as handouts, overheads, and rapid field training modules.

Monitoring of World Trade Center Health Effects Has Progressed, but Not for Federal Responders (PDF)
U.S. Government Accountability Office, 2005
Three federally funded monitoring programs implemented by state and local governments or private organizations after the September 11 World Trade Center (WTC) attack have provided initial梐nd in some cases followup梙ealth screenings to thousands of affected responders. These programs and the WTC Health Registry have information that program officials believe researchers could use to improve treatment and to help better understand the attack's health consequences.

National Advisory Committee on Children & Terrorism: Recommendations to the Secretary (PDF)
Centers for Disease Control, June 2003
This document presents consensus recommendations of the National Advisory Committee on Children and Terrorism regarding the preparedness of the health-care system and emergency medical services as they relate to children.

The News Media's Coverage of Crime and Victimization (video)
Office for Victims of Crime, February 2000
This 26-minute video explores how the news media tend to cover crime and victimization, what can be done to help victims effectively deal with sometimes insensitive coverage, and how victim service providers can work together with members of the media to promote timely, sensitive media coverage.

OVC Handbook for Coping After Terrorism: A Guide to Healing and Recovery
Office for Victims of Crime, September 2001
This handbook provides victims of terrorism with information based on the expertise of mental health, crisis counseling, and victim assistance professionals. The handbook is intended to help these victims understand their reactions to an act of terrorism or mass violence. Also available in Spanish.

OVC National Directory of Victim Assistance Funding Opportunities 2001
Office for Victims of Crime, September 2001
This resource directory lists by state and territory the contact names and information for federally funded crime victim assistance programs and includes particulars on grant programs that help state and local agencies prepare for and respond to incidents of domestic terrorism and criminal mass casualty.

Providing Relief to Families After a Mass Fatality
Office for Victims of Crime, 2002
A primary responsibility of those who respond in the aftermath of a mass-fatality event is providing care, services, and information to the victims' families and friends. This bulletin provides medical examiners and coroners with information, guidance, resources, and lessons learned about working with families of crime victims.

Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Program (ASCII or PDF)
Bureau of Justice Assistance, June 2001
This fact sheet provides information on the PSOB Program, which provides a one-time financial benefit to the eligible survivors of public safety officers killed in the line of duty and to officers who are permanently and totally disabled as the result of traumatic injuries sustained in the line of duty.

Public Safety Officers' Educational Assistance (PSOEA) Program (ASCII or PDF)
Bureau of Justice Assistance, July 2001
This fact sheet provides information on the PSOEA Program, which provides educational assistance (including tuition, room and board, books, supplies, and other related fees) to eligible family members of public safety officers who have either been killed in the line of duty or permanently disabled.

Responding to Terrorism Victims: Oklahoma City and Beyond
Office for Victims of Crime, October 2000
Based on lessons learned from the April 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Office Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and other mass casualty events, this report identifies special measures needed to protect the rights and meet the needs of victims of large-scale terrorist attacks involving mass casualties.

Responding to the Needs of September 11 Victims: Lessons Learned From the States
Office for Victims of Crime, 2005
This monograph discusses the experiences of state Victims of Crime Act administrator agencies when they provided services to victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The report provides a frontline perspective and offers lessons for state, federal, and private decisionmakers on organizing effective responses to mass criminal victimization.

September 11: Monitoring of World Trade Center Health Effects Has Progressed, but Not for Federal Responders (PDF)
U.S. Government Accountability Office, September 10, 2005
Three federally funded monitoring programs implemented by state and local governments and private organizations after the World Trade Center (WTC) attacks have provided initial examinations and, in some cases, followup examinations for thousands of affected responders. These programs and the WTC Health Registry have collected information that program officials believe researchers could use to help better understand the health consequences of the attack and improve treatment. This report assesses the progress of these monitoring programs, as well as the progress made on programs to monitor affected federal responders.

State Mental Health Authorities' Response to Terrorism (PDF)
National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, February 2004
This report discusses the impact of a terrorist act on the general public as well as special populations such as children, elderly people, individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, and clients of mental health services. This report also reviews the key federal agencies and behavioral health programs involved in the response to terrorism.

Stress Prevention and Management Approaches for Rescue Workers in the Aftermath of Terrorist Attacks
National Mental Health Information Center, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, April 2003
This fact sheet provides information for rescue workers and emergency responders on recovering from working at the site of terrorist attacks, including a referral to a national hotline for assistance.

Terrorist Attacks Against Children: Vulnerabilities, Management Principles and Capability Gaps
M. Brandenburg and J. Regens, Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, The Berkeley Electronic Press, December 2006
Events such as the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and the 2004 terrorist attack on a school in Beslan, Russia, demonstrate that terrorists are willing and able to attack large numbers of children. Even if children are not the primary target, pediatric casualties are likely when terrorist incidents occur in urban areas. Very little research has been conducted on how to manage children during and after disasters or on how the experience affects children in the aftermath of such events. This paper discusses the risks that terrorism brings to children, vulnerabilities in this population, basic principles of pediatric disaster response, and current gaps in response capabilities. It is available from the publisher for a fee or at no or low cost via any public or academic library.

Trauma, Death, and Death Notification: A Seminar for Professional Counselors and Victim Advocates
Mothers Against Drunk Driving, 1996
This curriculum contains guidelines on trauma and death notification developed by Mothers Against Drunk Driving to train professionals on how to provide compassionate and thorough death notifications. Separate curricula are available for crime victim advocates, medical professionals, clergy and funeral directors, and law enforcement.

Working With Grieving Children (video)
Office for Victims of Crime, June 1997
This 27-minute video provides a discussion of the effects on children of a loved one's violent death. The video contains interviews with children who have lost a loved one through violence and offers suggestions on coping with loss.

Working With Grieving Children After Violent Death: A Guidebook for Crime Victim Assistance Professionals
Office for Victims of Crime, August 1996
This guidebook provides a quick reference for victim assistance professionals in their work with children, parents, teachers, counselors, clergy, and others as they address the needs of grieving children who have been touched by the death of a family member or close friend. The guide summarizes current research on grief and trauma reactions in children, suggests methods and activities for intervention and counseling, and presents sample age-specific support group curricula.