WTC Records Folder 0128 Disaster Information General label, 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Responding to Terrorism Victims - Oklahoma City and Beyond Page 6 of 10

contact information are established and maintained.

Discussion The FBI, EOUSA, and OVC should work with ARC, NTSB, and others to ensure that victim contact information is available to responding investigative and prosecuting agencies in a timely fashion. Privacy laws intended to protect victim information from public disclosure or inappropriate uses should not be used to withhold victims' names and contact information from the criminal justice agencies charged by federal law with providing rights and services to crime victims. Privacy Act issues should be addressed prior to an act of terrorism through MOUs or as part of a coordinated crisis response plan. Providing victim contact information to a law enforcement agency is a crucial exception to the Privacy Act.

Recommendation 4

Federal agencies should maintain a `fly-away" team of victim assistance experts, including an OVC representative, to provide onsite support and technical assistance in developing the response to terrorism victims.

Discussion OVC has identified individuals in federal and state agencies and nonprofit programs with knowledge and expertise in working with mass-casualty and violent crime victims. Also, OVC has identified people with the capacity to activate or locate funding and other resources to assist communities in coping with a criminal disaster. OVC may be able to use VOCA funds to help support the cost of support teams for immediate assistance and ongoing technical assistance.

Recommendation 5

Prosecuting offices should establish mechanisms to ensure that victims are kept informed of case events, ongoing services, and support throughout the trial process.

A. U.S. Attorneys' Offices should appoint an Attorney Liaison as an advisor for victims and the trial team. Prior to the trial and during the trial, the Attorney Liaison should maintain regular contact with victims to ensure that they understand the prosecution process.

B. Victims should have the opportunity to meet with the trial team on a periodic basis to ensure that prosecutors fulfill the requirement to use their best efforts to consult with victims about major case events and make reasonable efforts to consult about proposed plea bargains.

C. Prosecutors and victim-witness coordinators should ensure that plans are in place to enable as many victims as possible to participate in court proceedings. In addition, a mechanism should be in place for providing victim impact information at sentencing in the event of a guilty plea or verdict.

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/publications/infores/resptcrrorism/chap9.htm] 9/29/01

NYC-WTC 000137337