This sure sounds like a HCI/VPC/MMM crap inspired program.

[url]www.usnewswire.com/topnews/Current_Releases/0731-145.html[/url]

Justice Dept. Outlines Challenges of Serving Gun Victims
U.S. Newswire
31 Jul 17:35

Justice Dept. Outlines Challenges of Serving Victims of Gun
Violence; Bulletin Makes Recommendations, Describes Programs
To: National Desk
Contact: Office for Victims of Crime, 202-307-0703

WASHINGTON, July 31 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The unique nature of gun
violence presents specific challenges in helping victims, according
to a new Justice Department bulletin. Efforts to assist victims of
gun violence must take into account the fear, anger and
hopelessness that many of these victims experience.

The bulletin, "Working With Victims of Gun Violence", recommends
that programs for victims of gun violence be broad-based,
comprehensive and include victims' families. Efforts must also
focus on young people, who are a disproportionate share of gun
violence victims.

"Gun violence corrodes the fabric of our communities,
traumatizing victims, witnesses, families and neighborhoods," said
Attorney General John Ashcroft. "Victims need care that is
immediate, thorough and addresses the many different types of
damage that gun violence causes."

The bulletin, developed by the Justice Department's Office for
Victims of Crime (OVC), resulted from a meeting of a working group
of various professionals who work with victims of gun violence,
including physicians, social workers, mental health providers,
prosecutors, nurses, lawyers, teachers, school principals, victim
compensation administrators and judges. Several gunshot victims
and family members of firearm homicide victims also participated.
OVC convened the working group as part of the bulletin's
development.

The working group identified several key factors that separate
gun violence from other forms of violence. Gun violence can more
often be random and can affect more people in a shorter time
period. Victims are more likely to include innocent bystanders.
Residents of neighborhoods with frequent gun violence are often
afraid to leave their homes fearing that they might be injured by
gunfire.

Other factors include the severity of the nonfatal gun violence
injuries, which can alter a victim's life forever. Also, many
young gun violence victims face continuing fear, as well as a
stigma that they somehow contributed to their victimization.

The bulletin emphasizes that efforts to help gun violence
victims take into account their unique circumstances. One
recommendation is the creation of peer support groups, similar to
those available for rape or domestic violence victims. Another
recommendation is developing programs focusing on family members,
such as the Family Advocacy Program in Washington, D.C. This
program helps educate the family members of gun homicide victims
about police and hospital procedures and provides referrals to
counseling or pastoral services.

(continued)

In addition, the bulletin profiles programs that focus on young
gun violence victims. Caught in the Crossfire, based in Oakland,
California, provides immediate help to gunshot victims between the
ages of 12 and 19. Crisis intervention specialists provide victims
with immediate counseling in the hospital and follow-up services
for a year after the injury. Many of the counselors in Caught in
the Crossfire were themselves gun violence victims.

Given the preponderance of young victims, the bulletin
recommends school-based peer counseling as a way to prevent the
anger and fear surrounding gun violence from leading to more
violence. One such program is Rise Above It, in Newark, New
Jersey, which shows students the long-lasting effects of gunshot
wounds and teaches them skills to deal with anger and prevent
fights.

"Working With Victims of Gun Violence", as well as information
about other OVC publications, programs and conferences, are
available through the OVC Website at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc and from
the OVC Resource Center at 800-627-6872.

Information about other Office of Justice Programs (OJP) bureaus
and program offices is available at www.ojp.usdoj.gov. Media
should contact OJP's Office of Congressional and Public Affairs at
202-307-0703.