OVC ArchiveOVC
This file is provided for reference purposes only. It was current when produced, but is no longer maintained and may now be outdated. Please select www.ovc.gov to access current information.

Line

OVC Bulletin

Providing Relief to Families After a Mass Fatality

Roles of the Medical Examiner's Office and the Family Assistance Center

by Ray L. Blakeney

November 2002

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


Download This Bulletin

  • 19-page PDF file (254 kb)
Bibliography
Acknowledgments
About the Author

Related Links

Related Publications

To Publications


Shopping cart graphic to the NCJRS Online Ordering SystemOrder this OVC publication using the NCJRS Online Ordering System

Ordering tip: Ask for NCJ 188912


Get Acrobat Reader
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader to read all PDF documents.

Office for Victims of Crime logoOffice of Justice Programs Seal

The Office for Victims of Crime is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

Archive iconThe information on this page is archived and provided for reference purposes only.