Contents
Message From the Director
This bulletin will help medical examiners and coroners
as they work with surviving families of crime victims.
See also the Special Message
to Medical Examiners.
Primary Issues and Concerns of
the Victims' Families
Frequently asked questions (with answers) from victims'
families following a mass fatality.
Example of a State/Federal Partnership
To Provide Victim Assistance Services in a Medical Examiner's
Office
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of the
State of Oklahoma used Victims of Crime Act federal
funds to help families of crime victims.
Lessons Learned About What Is
Helpful When Working With Victims' Families
Medical examiners have learned through experience the
importance of being considerate and allowing victims'
families to make choices regarding the disposition of
victim remains.
Family Assistance Center
Family assistance centers provide victims' families
with information, support, and resources in an appropriate
manner and setting. See the Summary
of Site Selection Considerations for the Family Assistance
Center and the Summary
of Procedural Considerations for the Family Assistance
Center.
DMORT Teams
Disaster Mortuary Operational Response
Teams provide victim identification, mortuary, and technical
services during an emergency response.
Formulating a Crisis Response
Plan
Every community should have a plan in place to ensure
coordinated, effective crisis response. See also Coordinating
Long-Term Crisis Response Plans.
Promising Practices
Summaries of victim support tasks
performed by various responding agencies.
Conclusion
Preplanning for an effective crisis response should
be a collaborative effort among professionals in the
emergency preparedness, medical and mental health, and
victim assistance fields.
For More Information
Notes
The information on this page is archived and provided for reference purposes only.
