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Office of Justice for Victims of Overseas Terrorism

Resources

DOJ/OVT Materials

OVT Fact Sheet

Information regarding DOJ/OVT, such as our services, U.S. Code legal definitions, victims’ rights, and vital U.S. government partners.

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Espanol עברית  

 

Brochure: Information for U.S. Victims of Overseas Terrorism

This brochure is designed for U.S. victims of overseas terrorism and their loved ones. It contains basic information about victims’ rights, our office’s services, and quick references and contact information for other government resources for victims.

English Francais العربية
Espanol עברית  

 

Brochure: About the Office of Justice for Victims of Overseas Terrorism

This brochure is designed for government officials or victims service providers. It contains basic information about who we are, what we do, who we serve, and our U.S. government partners in those efforts.

English Francais العربية
Espanol עברית  

 

Flowchart: U.S. Government Response
This flow chart represents the U.S. government-coordinated response to U.S. citizen victims of overseas terrorism.

International Legal Systems: A Guidebook
An introduction to foreign criminal justice legal systems.

 

We provide these links for your information and convenience. When you select a link to an outside website, you are subject to the quality of services of that resource and the privacy, copyright, security, and information policies of their website. These links are created and maintained by other public and private organizations. Such links should not be construed as an endorsement of the views, provided services, or privacy policies contained therein, nor can we guarantee that outside websites comply with the accessibility requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

U.S.-Based Information and Victim Organizations

The Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance (AGGL)
The AGGL offer guidance for U.S. Department of Justice professionals. The 2022 revisions to the AGGL reflect statutory updates, case law developments, the impact of technology, and lessons the Department has learned working with victims and witnesses.

The two foundational laws concerning victims’ rights in the United States are:

National Crime Victim Bar Association (NCVBA)
An affiliate of the National Center for Victims of Crime, the NCVBA is a professional association dedicated to helping victims seek justice in the civil system. The website offers an attorney directory and information on the justice system.

National Crime Victim Law Institute
NCVLI is a nonprofit legal education and advocacy organization whose mission is to actively promote balance and fairness in the justice system through crime victim centered legal advocacy, education, and resource sharing.

U.S. Victim Law
This is a searchable database of victims' rights legal provisions including federal, state, and territorial statutes, tribal laws, state constitutional amendments, court rules, administrative code provisions, and summaries of related court decisions and attorney general opinions.

International Terrorism Victim Expense Reimbursement Program (ITVERP)
ITVERP was authorized by Congress to reimburse eligible direct victims of acts of international terrorism that occur outside the United States for expenses associated with that victimization. The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) administers the program.

Victim Compensation and Assistance in Your State
This map, created by OVC, links to each of the Federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funded victim assistance and compensation programs in the U.S. states and some territories.

Crime Victim Help Lines (Toll Free and Online Hotlines)
This page offers toll free local, national, and international help lines and online hotlines for victims of crime.

Crime Victim Rights Act (CVRA) Reference Chart
This page is a comprehensive list of victim assistance and compensation programs that includes information on several non-governmental organizations.

Help for Crime Victims – Mass Violence and Terrorism
This OVC page offers guides to various programs and publications that may be useful to victims of mass violence and terrorism.

Managing Distress: Grounding Tips for Crime Victims, Survivors and Family Members of Mass Violence Incidents
This page, from the National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center (NMVVRC), offers grounding and mindfulness techniques that may help to manage intense negative feelings.

National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC)
NCVC is a nonprofit organization that advocates for victims' rights, trains professionals who work with victims, and serves as a trusted source of information on victims' issues.

National Crime Victims Law Institute (NCVLI) Victim Resource Map
The Victim Resource Map links to U.S. organizations that provide aid, information, and support directly to victims of crime. It is searchable by crime type or location, the map contains links to valuable national and state programs.

Referrals and Resources for Victims of Crime
This is the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA)’s list of helplines, databases, and other web resources for victims of a variety of crimes, including mass violence, human trafficking, and cyber-crime.

VictimConnect
VictimConnect is an OVC-funded service that offers confidential assistance to victims of crime. Trained specialists are available to help victims locate services in their area, including mental health counseling, legal services, and more.

FBI Publications for Survivors
The Victim Services Division (VSD) has developed publications on a variety of topics that relate to coping after many kinds of crime victimization.

OVC Training and Technical Assistance Training (OVC TTAC)
This page has web-based training and tools on a wealth of victim-centered topics. The Mass Violence and Terrorism Toolkit includes sections on Partnerships and Planning, the Response Phase, and the Recovery Phase.

OVC Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC) – Victim Assistance Training Online
TTAC’s Victim Assistance Training Online (VAT) is a foundational, Web-based victim assistance training program that offers victim service providers and allied professionals the opportunity to develop the essential skills and knowledge they need to assist victims of crime more effectively. VAT Online has four sections: Basics, Core Competencies and Skills, Crimes, and Specific Considerations for Providing Victim Services.

National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center

 

 

International Instruments and Organizations

CoE’s “Protection of Victims of Terrorist Acts” are guidelines on investigation and prosecution related activities as it relates to the support of victims in the pursuit of law and justice.

The European e-Justice Portal
This page provides information on justice systems and improving access to justice throughout the European Union (EU), in 23 different languages.

European Commission (EC)
Recognizing that victims of terrorism deserve special attention and support at both national and EU level, the EC is tasked with exploring measures to improve support to victims of terrorism, assessing the existing EU rules on victims’ rights and, if necessary, proposing legislative changes.

Global Counter-Terrorism Forum (GCTF)
The GCTF has made supporting victims of terrorism and amplifying their voices a key objective from its inception and has taken a number of concrete actions on behalf of victims of terrorism.

The IIJ maintains Practitioner Tools and Resources including Judicial Guidelines on Good Practices for the Adjudication of Terrorism Offences (English).

United Nations (UN)
Information on UN initiatives and projects supporting victims of terrorism.

United Nations Victims of Terrorism Support Portal
The Solidarity with Victims of Terrorism Support Portal aims to highlight the importance of those individuals across the globe who have been attacked, injured, traumatized, or lost their lives during terrorist attacks.

United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism / United Nations Counterterrorism Centre (UNOCT/UNCCT)
This Unit aims to show solidarity with, raise awareness on, and contribute to protecting, promoting and respecting the rights and supporting the needs of victims of terrorism. The Unit also works towards building the capacity of UN Member States and civil society organizations to better support the needs of victims of terrorism.

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)