Introduction to Colorado Mass Violence Toolkit
The information provided on this page is intended to assist our community in the preparation and response to mass tragedy events. This website is not all-inclusive, and cannot provide information related to all situations or all parties involved.
The goal is to provide information and resources, gathered from partnerships, to effectively prepare the community to respond, recover, and support the community or loved ones before, during and after a mass tragedy event.
This page is divided into 5 sections:
| Pre-incident | Incident in Progress | Post incident |
| Healing and Recovering | Active Prosecution |
Pre-incident
Partnerships and Planning
Understanding the resources available can help the pre-planning process and identify how to respond to individuals in moments of crisis. This section of the Colorado Mass Violence Toolkit for Victim Advocates should serve as a starting point for outlining the victim advocate role in assisting a community in planning for mass violence incidents.
Online Materials
Review material currently available from organizations across the nation who have responded to mass violence incidents. In addition to resources available at the local level, there are several strategies that have been developed. It is important for victim advocates to review and identify the resources that have already been developed and are readily available prior to assisting in the development of a victim-centered community plan. Two websites, which contain comprehensive resource materials, are linked below providing the basic information that could be helpful to all victim advocates responding or preparing for a MVI.
- Office for Victims of Crime: OVC Mass Tragedy Toolkit Activities-at-a-Glance
National Mass Violence Victims Resources Center
Victims Advocate Role
Develop a general overall plan for victim advocates in the community – what is your role and goals in a MVI?
Typically, local law enforcement, emergency management teams and other officials should and will take the lead. Victim advocates, however, play a vital and essential role in the readiness phase of a MVI, and it is important that a victim advocate prepare for and embrace their role. Prior planning will go a long way in alleviating some of the stress and uncertainty during a MVI. Some of the important pre-MVI victim advocate roles include, but are not limited to:
Victim Advocates should be prepared to assist in the creation of, or addition to, a local emergency response plan that includes the important role of Victim Advocates in preparing for Mass Violence Incidents.
- Crisis Response Partners
Developing and maintaining relationships is vital. The importance of developing and maintaining partnerships in your community cannot be understated.
To ensure a coordinated, professional response to an incident, it is critical to have collaborative training in Crisis Intervention, Incident Command, and protocols specific to that community. Some potential partners in the community might include: Fire and police departments, emergency management departments, local mental health teams, the District Attorney’s Office and crime victim compensation units, the coroner's office, the faith based community, school districts, community companies, and local hospitals.
Every emergency management plan should include an Emergency Support Function (ESF) for responding to the needs of individuals impacted by an incident. These needs could include shelter services, medical needs, mental health, financial resources and others.
Every community should already have a local Emergency Management Team. It is imperative that victim services be part of any Emergency Management Plan. (The Emergency Management Team in your local community should not be meeting you for the first time at an MVI! Make sure they know you)! Any Emergency Management exercises or drills should include protocols related to contacting victim advocates in the area.
- Command Center
Who is in Charge?
The Incident Command Center (ICC) is the hub of all activity during a Mass Violence Incident. The ICC provides a unified command in a multi-responder emergency in which all agencies, including Victim Advocates, have a jurisdictional responsibility for the crisis response.
A victim advocate representative should coordinate with law enforcement and send a victim assistance representative to the ICC.In coordination with law enforcement, you may be asked to deploy victim service providers to support victim and survivors, including assistance before, during and after interviews with law enforcement officials.
- Communication & Protocol
Preparing a Communications Plan and Protocol for utilization during a Mass Violence Incident is imperative. Typically, the lead law enforcement agency will provide most of the communication during a MVI. A preplanned Joint Information Center (JIC) can assist with much sought after communication by providing official information through various media. An organized JIC can provide information through various means including radio, television, Web, phone texts, social media and other online applications.
- Communicating with Victims
Communicate with the victim in mind by responding to their needs of following an incident.
Create a safe space for them to express their emotions while noticing body language. Some helpful websites include:
- Identification Protocol
Who is in Charge?
Preplan and prepare an identification protocol for victim advocates, this includes identification protocol for victim advocates. Victim advocates will contribute to responding to a scene, hospitals, a home of victims and other locations as needed.
- create a pre-vetted list of victim advocates
- use pre-made badges, lanyards or other identifying credentials for vetted victim advocates responders
- Go Boxes
“Go” boxes can assist Victim Advocates during a mass violence incident (MVI) when an advocate gets the call of a MVI in progress. Having forms, technology support, items for identification, etc. help an advocate grab-and-go at a moment’s notice. Materials to consider having in your to-go box can include lanyards with names of responders already printed, colored lanyards as identifiers, phones and cellphone chargers, fold-up tables and chairs.
The following items are suggests for a Go-Box:
Incident in Progress
Resources Available
The video above discuss resources, being prepared and what to do during an incident in progress.
The Five Thing to Do First
Below are 5 check-off items that can be done immediate, during a incident in progress:
- Locate the Incident Command Center and contact the Incident Commander;
- Print out the Victim Advocate Checklist for Mass Violence Events (or your local checklist if preplanned);
- Determine if you have enough Victim Advocate resources;
- If you have not heard from them, contact COVA (303) 861-1160 and the Office for Victims Programs at the Division of Criminal Justice (303) 239-4437;
- Remember there are others around the state that have been through this before that are ready to help.
Forms: In-progress Incidents
The forms below were gathered from the website of our collaboarting partnerns across the state:
- Sample Checklist of Immediate Needs: this form identifies what is needed to get started.
- Incident Checklist: general details
- Sample Victim Information: use to gather contact information
- Sample Credentialing: used to vet volunteers
- Sample Volunteer Check-in:used to record accurate time reporting for repots.
- Sample Service Provision Checklist: Use this form to record referral services provided
- Sample Simplified Crime Victim Compensation Form
- Information & Notification Center
The Information and Notification Center will become the command center for Victim Advocates. A trained team should be utilized to provide information on fatalities, injuries, recovery, temporary identification, missing persons, and the release and disposition of personal effects. Common tasks at the Information and Notification Center include:
Identification & Reunification
The following information may be helpful in developing a plan to facilitate connecting victims with an advocate who can help with reunification.
Physical Locations
There should be a reception area that provides contact information for victims and
family/friends at each location. At hospital locations, it is helpful to provide a designated
advocate to work with hospital personnel.
These sites may be at:
- Hospitals
- Designated reunification sites
- Other locations as needed
- Urgent Call Center
An urgent call center can be utilized to receive calls from victims, witnesses, families, or media.
An urgent call center could be staffed by Victim Advocates, Law Enforcement Officers, or
Public Information Officers.
Purpose: to identify victims or redirect caller- Connecting families/friends to victims (Victim advocate)
- Connecting victims to investigators (Law enforcement officer)
- Handle Media calls (Public information officer)
Urgent Call Center
An urgent call center can be utilized to receive calls from victims, witnesses, families, or media. An urgent call center could be staffed by Victim Advocates, Law Enforcement Officers, or Public Information Officers.
Purpose: to identify victims or redirect caller- Connecting families/friends to victims (Victim advocate)
- Connecting victims to investigators (Law enforcement officer)
- Handle Media calls (Public information officer
Identify a Temporary Safe Location
Identify a temporary safe location for families of victims and missing persons to gather as they await information. A local fire station, church, municipal building, school, etc., could serve as a temporary information and notification center for families.A Place to Grieve
Victims may also need a place to grieve and gather outside of the Information and Notification Center. It is preferred that any memorial or gathering space not be at the crime scene because of the ongoing investigation.
Provide Safety & Support
Identify a location that provides the appropriate level of safety and support for families in the immediate aftermath of the event. This temporary Information and Notification Center may not be appropriate as a permanent location.
- Media Relations
The Public Information Office should be the individual that communicates with the media. It is imperative that any potential information subject to media release during a Mass Violence Incident be discussed with victims and their families prior to any media release. It may be helpful to assign a Public Information Officer (PIO) to each family or victim. Requesting assistance from other agencies for PIO assistance may be needed.
- Communicating Your Message: Media Tips & Tools
- Justice Solutions: Sample Media Contact Form
- National Response Team (NRT) Joint Information Center Model
- News Media Guide for Victim Services
- Media Relations and Developing Partnerships
- Donation Protocols
Money Donations
Utilize the communications plan to inform the public where to send monetary donations to a single fund (Colorado Healing Fund).
Be aware that individual families may set up individual funds to collect donations. Discuss how these individual funds may affect the disbursement strategy for the Colorado Healing Fund.
Incorporate fraud alerts into public communications related to donations.
Implement the communications plan to inform the public on the Colorado Healing Fund, and how their donations will be used (i.e. to support agencies serving the MVI victims as well).
Donations of Goods & Services
Engage existing partnerships with local community nonprofits and services organizations to assist in the process.
Use the database developed during the planning phase (or develop one) to help collect, track, disburse, and acknowledge the donations of goods and services.
Store and manage donated goods at a local facility/warehouse. Consider asking local city services to assist in the transportation of donations.
Utilize the communications plan to inform the public where to send and bring donations and how their donations will be used. Consider technology and the media to collect donations as needed.
Identify and individual to coordinate the distribution process for goods and services with victim advocates assigned to victims and family members.
- Death Notification Protocol
- Work closely with the local Coroner to understand the roles and responsibilities in your jurisdiction
- Sample of a Death Notification Procedures
- Sample of a Corner and Death Notification
Sample of Trauma Notification Training
The FBI partnered with Penn State to produce a online death notification training module for first responders
GRIEV ING Death Notification Protocols for physician educators
- National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center
The National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center helps to improve community preparedness and the nation’s capacity to serve victims recovering from mass violence through research, planning, training, technology, and collaboration.
A team of developers at the National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center (NMVVRC) created a mobile, self-help app for mass violence survivors, their families and anyone affected by mass violence.
Transcend NMVC educates users on common reactions to mass violence and provides strategies to manage emotional and behavioral reactions to trauma.
New users can explore the app on their own or create a personal recovery strategy. Different learning courses define mass violence, what to expect through recovery, the body’s response to trauma and its lasting effects.
Topics include calming the body, managing distressing thoughts, maintaining healthy levels of activity, coping for loss and helping others. The app offers different interactives like creating task lists, schedules and guided audio recordings.
The app is available on Apple and Android mobile products.
- Colorado Crisis Services
1-844-493-TALK (8225)
Colorado Crisis Services provides free, confidential, professional and immediate support for any mental health, substance use or emotional concern, 24/7/365. Call 1-844-493-TALK (8255) or text TALK to 38255 to speak to a trained professional.
- Colorado Healing Fund
The mission of the Colorado Healing Fund is to assist local communities with the financial, emotional and physical needs of victims of mass tragedies that occur in the state of Colorado. The Colorado Healing Fund (CHF) will serve as the single point in Colorado for the collection of public donations in the aftermath of a mass tragedy and in conjunction with community partners CHF will coordinate the disbursement of funds to victims.
- Office of Victims of Crime
OVC channels funding for victim compensation and assistance throughout the United States, raises awareness about victims’ issues, promotes compliance with victims’ rights laws, and provides training and technical assistance and publications and products to victim assistance professionals.
- Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance
The Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance (COVA) is committed to fairness and healing for crime victims, their families and communities through leadership, education, and advocacy. COVA's vision is to be recognized as a national leader in building a collaborative environment where crime victims are given the opportunity to heal and restore balance to their lives.
- Crime Victim Administrators
This page provides a list of Crime Victim Compensation Administrators in Colorado.
Post-incident Response
48 hours to 2 weeks
Post-incident response focuses on the role of Victim Advocates immediately following the mass violence incident for the next several days (48 hours to 2 weeks). Communities where the mass violence incident took place will typically respond quickly to give guidance, financial and emotional help.
- Family Assistance Center
Family Assistance Center Protocol:
The Family Assistance Center is the place where everyone can gather and receive a variety of support. FAC’s also allow victim’s access to information, resources, and multiple partner agencies all in one location. The FAC can provide referrals to local services for mental health counseling; crime victim compensation; emergency resources; and other services. The FAC should have a physical location, but should also have a Web site for online access and information. Consider the following as a basic checklist.In addition to the checklist, there are a number of other considerations the victim advocate should be prepared to address:
When should the FAC be transferred to a long-term resiliency center?
What are the best practices for the return of personal effects – what can be returned and when?
What if survivors and family members want to visit the mass incident scene?- Media Plan
Public Information Officer (PIO): Identify Provide the PIO who will provide official information to various media sources that is accurate, timely, multilingual and multicultural. A communication gatekeeper will be responsible for overseeing the communication team and working with the victim/family law enforcement advocate and public information officer (PIO) for effective communication.
Coordination: It is critical that the victim advocate coordinate with the PIO on information being released, and whether or not victims would like to speak to the media. The best-case scenario is that every victim or victims’ family have their own PIO or access to their own PIO.
Considerations: Some items that should be considered in working with the media:
Are there resources available so that a designated PIO can be assigned to every victim or victims’ family?
How to prepare victims for the media onslaught
How a victim advocate can ask for help in working with the media
Working with the PIO on funeral management
What to do if the victim initiates the contact with the media- Funding
It is common for the community to show an interest in donating to the recovery of when a mass violence incident for the victims or offer to help the agencies that are providing services to the victims. Victim advocates should be aware of the different funding sources available to victims of mass violence incidents.
Process:
Refer to the Colorado Healing Fund as the single point of collection of public donations in the aftermath of a mass violence incident.There will be other sources of funding and donations to individual victims following a mass violence incident. It is not the role of the victim advocate to start, oversee, or manage a “Go Fund Me” account for a victim. A victim advocate should, however, be aware of how collateral sources can effect victim compensation benefits (such as if a “Go Fund Me is set up to pay for funeral expenses, the local Victim Compensation program cannot pay for funeral expenses because of the collateral resource).
There will be many well-intended individuals wishing to donate items that will not necessarily be beneficial to victims of the mass violence incident. Develop a polite way to defer these donations by using the Red Cross or Salvation Army to accept these well-intentioned donations.- Family Assistance Center
Family Assistance Center Protocol:
The Family Assistance Center is the place where everyone can gather and receive a variety of support. FAC’s also allow victim’s access to information, resources, and multiple partner agencies all in one location. The FAC can provide referrals to local services for mental health counseling; crime victim compensation; emergency resources; and other services. The FAC should have a physical location, but should also have a Web site for online access and information. Consider the following as a basic checklist.In addition to the checklist, there are a number of other considerations the victim advocate should be prepared to address:
When should the FAC be transferred to a long-term resiliency center?
What are the best practices for the return of personal effects – what can be returned and when?
What if survivors and family members want to visit the mass incident scene?
- Vigils
Support at a Vigil:
The role of a victim advocate at a vigil is one of support. There are many things a victim advocate can and cannot control including the timing and possibly the location. There are some best practices related to vigils that have been learned from prior mass violence events
Attending a Vigil:
Victim advocates should attend the vigil if possible, but only in a support role.
Victim Advocates should preferably stay in the periphery, with minimal identifiers such as lanyards or basic victim advocate jackets.
If possible, avoid badges and identifiers such as bright glowing jackets.
Victim advocates should keep an eye out for individuals that might need emotional or other support during the vigil.
Faith-based Leaders:
When faith is instrumental to a family, work with a local faith-based leaders to coordinate a vigil and offer one or two options to the family for a vigil.
Local Law Enforcement:
Ask the local law enforcement agency to provide armed law enforcement officers at the vigil for the safety and security of participants.
What Not-to-Do:
Know what not to do – for example, a well-intentioned law enforcement tribute with lights and sirens may re-traumatize victims of the mass violence incident.- Multi-Disciplinary Team
Identification, Documentation & Coordination:
Whether the multi-disciplinary team was set up during the planning phase or developed spontaneously after the mass violence incident, the continued coordination following the incident is vital.
Best Practices:
Set up a time (perhaps at the beginning of every day immediately after the incident and longer periods, i.e. once a week, when appropriate) for daily check-ins and briefings.
Collect agency names and emails for debriefings and recognition.
Assure that everyone has proper identification- First Responder Resources
During and after a mass violence incident, first responders are typically the first to charge towards the scene, and the last to ask for help. The victim assistance team from the lead law enforcement agency might wish to consider a temporary resource center dedicated specifically to first responders and their families. The First Responder resource center should be established in a location separate from the victim resource center, and should be widely promoted through roll calls, the incident commander, etc.
First Responder Centers:- Massage therapists providing complementary massages to first responders and families
Food that has been donated - Distribution of self-care information
- Acupuncturists providing complementary acupuncture to first responders and families
- Activities that are kid-friendly and would tend to draw entire families
Raffles - Day care onsite with child activities
- On-site mental health professionals
- Massage therapists providing complementary massages to first responders and families
- Coordination with District Attorney Advocates
Handing-off the information:
If the suspect in the mass violence has been captured and is awaiting trial, victim advocates must be prepared to transfer their victim advocate responsibilities for victims to the District Attorney’s Office. This can often times be a difficult process, as victim advocates develop strong bonds with the victims and families they have been serving since day one of the mass violence incident. It is important to note that transferring a victim’s case to the District Attorney’s Office is not a severing of all ties and communications with the victim. It is, however, a time to let the District Attorney’s Office victim advocate team take the lead in assisting the victim through the criminal justice process and court proceedings.
Healing the Community
After a mass violence incident, communities respond swiftly to address the immediate danger and give practical help. The mass violence incident shatters not only individual lives, but the community as well. Healing for the individual and community will happen eventually, but things are never the same. Good leadership and preparedness can guide the community in restoring faith in the future and one another.
- Long-term Recovery
Place to Gather:
Recovery from a mass violence event is a marathon and not a sprint. The establishment of a Community Resiliency Center (CRC) has been shown to facilitate the long-term recovery of victims and the community. The purpose of a CRC is to provide ongoing services and assistance to victims and families, first responders, and the community.- Recovery Checklist
Some specific considerations related to a CRC include:
- Recognizing that some survivors and families may not feel comfortable with being included in the broader community offered by the CRC. Victim advocates should be aware that not all victims of the mass violence incident will want to participate and take advantage of the services offered at the CRC.
- Identifying special populations who may need specialized resources.
- Continue to assign victim advocates to survivors and families where necessary.
- Consider a holistic approach to support victims and family members including diverse faith and spiritual healing practices. Provide mental health support, counseling, etc. at the CRC.
- Ensure that everyone involved in the mass violence incident – for law enforcement to community leaders, receive the necessary support to address vicarious trauma.
- Consider assisting in organizing memorial events. Work with local partners in the planning process.
- Work with the Public Information Officer to get the word out about the establishment and purpose of a CRC.
- The CRC should be staffed more and open longer closer to the mass violence incident. CRC hours and staffing can be reduced as time goes on and the center is less utilized.
- Plan for the eventual closure of the CRC. Make sure other resources and referrals are in place prior to shutting the doors.
Consider targeting specialized populations for resources. For example, teachers if the mass violence incident takes place at a school.
- Long-term Volunteer
Immediately following a mass violence incident, volunteers seem to be plentiful. Equally important yet sometimes harder to find are volunteers willing to stick around for the long process of recovery.
Special Considerations:- Special considerations for volunteer management at the Community Resilience Center include:
- Developing a process for training long-term volunteers and for supervising, assigning and assisting them during the recovery phase.
- Develop a process for dealing with unsolicited “volunteers” and how to politely turn away volunteers to control the situation and provide consistent services.
- Work with local partners to secure long-term volunteers that have already been vetted.
- Removing the Memorial
Honoring the memory of those lost
Every incident is different, and the temporary memorial take down may change in each community. There are, however, some processes that have worked in recent mass violence incidents:
Processes that have worked- Respectfully inform the victim and victim families that unless the items related to their loved one at the temporary memorial site is claimed by a date certain, that item could be destroyed. Many survivors will want a small token from the temporary site, while others do not want anything at all, and still others wanting everything related to their loved one. By setting a realistic deadline for items to be claimed, the temporary memorial can be cleaned up and the some sense of normalcy returned to the area.
- Consider placing items in a storage area available to victims and families for a period of time after the event. If possible, dry clean items that have been soiled from the weather.
- If applicable, informing victims that any item left at the temporary memorial will be burned and the ashes will be used in the foundation or part of any permanent memorial.
- Healing Resources
There are a number of additional resources available to victim advocates prior to, during, and after a mass violence event. Having knowledge of and a working relationship with these organizations will be critical during a mass violence incident.
Office for Victims Programs Colorado Crime Victim Compensation Program is to improve the physical and emotional recovery of Colorado’s crime victims and restore victims’ confidence in the criminal justice system.
Colorado Healing Fund serves as the single point in Colorado for the collection of public donations in the aftermath of a mass tragedy and in conjunction with community partners CHF will coordinate the disbursement of funds to victims.Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance (COVA) vision is to be recognized as a national leader in building a collaborative environment where crime victims are given the opportunity to heal and restore balance to their lives.
- Government Agencies
Most likely the Colorado Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigations is already involved in the mass violence event. If you have not done so already, please contact the following agencies:
Division of Criminal Justice provides services to crime victims, agencies and organizations by managing programs and administrating grants.
Colorado Bureau of Investigations was created by the Colorado Legislature on July 1, 1967, the CBI was intended to support and assist local, county and state criminal justice agencies through the provision of professional investigative and forensic laboratory services, as well as the management and administration of criminal justice records and data sharing.
Federal Bureau of Investigations: Victim Assistance (719) 472-3861
- Go-Fund Me Accounts
The GoFundMe accounts can provide much needed resources for recovery from the incident.
When setting up an account consider:- The overall scheme of recovery and donations
- Should the monies raised in the GoFundMe account be considered if there is a monetary distribution for victims?
- How do GoFundMe resources effect Crime Victim Compensation payments?
- Designating individuals responsible for distributing funds
- Determining the date the account should close
- How the funds collected impact the funds and grants awarded by additional agencies is impacted. (Keep in mind, as a payer of last resort, Victim Compensation can only pay for expenses not reimbursed by a collateral source. If a GoFundMe account is raising money for funeral expenses, the Victim Compensation fund cannot likewise pay for the expenses paid by the GoFundMe account)
Active Prosecution
- Active Prosecution: Incident-specific:
Communication and compliance with notification requirement of the Victim Rights Act:
Creating an incident-specific link has worked well in several mass violence incidents. Enlist the Information Technology department in your District Attorney’s Office to create an incident-specific link, including a “blast” email system. Victims and family members are given a password to enter the incident-specific website. The website can provide up to the minute information related to resources, the prosecution of the case, as well as summaries of hearings, explanation of the court processes, etc. If a court proceeding is continued or rescheduled information can be delivered to the entire group instantaneously. Victims and survivors will have the desired information immediately, as opposed to waiting for a phone call or letter from the District Attorney’s Office.
- Tips for Transitioning:
Facilitating a warm handoff after charges have been filed
Often one of the most difficult transitions in a mass violence incident occurs where there is an active prosecution, and the law enforcement advocate must “hand over” the victim to their partner and counterpart in the District Attorney’s Office. During this process, the team must always consider the best interest of the victim. While the bond between the victim and the law enforcement advocate is undeniable, the District Attorney Victim Advocate has the unique ability to keep the victim informed of and educated about all of the court proceedings, from arraignment to sentencing. The law enforcement advocate and the District Attorney advocate must act as a team during this process. The law enforcement advocate should never be excluded from their involvement in a case, but the reality is that the District Attorney advocate is able to provide more detailed and timely information related to the on-going prosecution, including resources such as Victim Compensation.
- Prosecution-based Mass Violence Response Toolkit
Tools to assist the District Attorney’s Office with providing victim-related services stemming from a mass violence incident
Following the Aurora Theater shooting in 2012, the District Attorney’s Office in the 18th Judicial District created a toolkit to be used in other mass violence incidents by victim advocates in prosecutors’ offices and victim advocates working with victims where there was an active prosecution. There are a number of helpful resources available to victim advocates.
- Mass Violence Prosecution Victim Advocate Toolkit
The toolkit, prepared by the 18th Judicial District Colorado, titled The Aurora, Colorado Movie theater Shooting Prosecution Team, serves as a guide for victim advocates to suggest effective methods to provide services and assistance to victims of mass violence incidents where the perpetrator of the crime has been apprehended by law enforcement and will be prosecuted. This toolkit contains suggestions and checklists to assist advocates throughout the lengthy process from immediate crisis response, throughout the entire criminal justice process, and continuing through post-trial advocacy.