The IACP is one of four national partners working to improve communities’ capabilities to deal with increasing amounts of criminal mass violence and domestic terrorism (CMV/DT) through ICP TTA. The goal of this project is to ensure local, state, regional, and tribal jurisdictions across the country are better prepared to respond to the needs of victims following incidents of CMV/DT. ICP TTA provides training and technical assistance using 16 best practices to close the gap between emergency management and victim services operations.

What Law Enforcement Needs to Know About Victim Services During Mass Violence

Law enforcement officers are usually first to arrive to the scene following an incident of mass violence and, therefore, often first to interact with victims and their families. That said, collaboration amongst professionals from a variety of fields and agencies is vital to ensure victims and their families receive the information and support they need. This training explains the important role of victim advocates, how law enforcement can incorporate victim advocates into mass violence response efforts, and the positive impact that victim advocate involvement can have on law enforcement as well as victims and their families.

First Responder and Victim Care: Sandy Hook School Shooting – What We Did Right, and What We Wish We Did

Incidents of mass violence or domestic terrorism present immediate and ongoing challenges. This case study will detail how the CT State Police Peer Support Team cared for their own during and after the response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Discussions after the incident revealed that there were tasks undertaken by CT State Police officers that were more traditionally taken on by trained victim advocates but that the Troopers were unaware that advocates were available. The tasks created ongoing challenging issues for responders including ending the work and disengaging from the families. Effective planning that incorporates victim services into the overall plan allows for advocates to step in when needed and allows First Responders to remain focused on their operational tasks. Presenters will detail the 16 Best Practices in Planning for Mass Violence or Domestic Terrorism that underpin the work of the ICPTTA program and include information about accessing the program.

For more information or to request training and technical assistance, please contact Cristina Fernandez or 703-647-7265.