This tip sheet from the National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center features the titles, functions, and contact information for key federal, national, and state agencies that assist in readiness-planning and activation of the response to mass violence incidents (MVIs).
An introductory note indicates this report is intended for a variety of professionals who support victims of mass violence; however, some of the information may pertain to subsets of victim assistance professionals. The federal agencies that perform tasks relevant to planning and activating responses to MVI are agencies under the U.S. Department of Justice, including the FBI's Victim Assistance Rapid Deployment Team, the Office for Justice Programs' Office for Victims of Crime, and U.S. Attorneys responsible for prosecuting federal cases that result from MVIs. U.S. Attorneys Victim/Witness staff help MVI victims and survivors understand and exercise their rights under federal law. The activities of other federal agencies related to MVIs include the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. National organizations whose work is related to planning and activating responses to MVIs include the American Red Cross, the National Emergency Management Association, and the National Organization for Victim Assistance. The types of state agencies relevant to planning and activating responses to MVIs include Victim Assistance Administrating Agencies and Victim Compensation Programs. State governors have responsibility for harnessing all federal, state, and local resources needed to respond to an MVI, and local mayors assume responsibility for responding to MVIs that occur in their jurisdictions.