Getting Started—Meeting a Need

Prior to the Oklahoma City bombings, no protocol existed for responding to the needs of victims of large-scale terrorist attacks. The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) provided funding to several organizations through its Emergency Reserve Fund to assist victims with crisis intervention, death notification, travel expenses related to changes in trial venue, and closed circuit viewing of trials, among other services.

Local victims' groups and the U.S. Department of Justice realized that a single coalition should be formed to coordinate victim services. Thus the Colorado Oklahoma Resource Council (CORC) was formed as a collaboration among local and federal officials, relief organizations, and advocacy groups. CORC ensured that a Safe Haven was provided for victims locally. OVC identified further responsibilities for CORC. The resulting Colorado Oklahoma Resource Council (CORC) model was used to address the need for services for victims at multiple viewing locations. Since then, it has been adapted for use in other mass fatality trials. This publication represents the refinement of this protocol, which has evolved with each act of terrorism on American soil.