Crime Prevention

Secondary trauma and victimization aka vicarious victimization isn’t foreign to prosecutors, advocates and staff members. Those feelings of stress, burn out, physical and emotional exhaustion, can and do happen, and often with what seems to be no warning. It’s time to tackle the reality of vicarious victimization with information that will assist in identification, provide tools to help get one through, and ways to build support within agencies.

In recent years, communities across the country have experienced substantial increases in gun violence. While some cities have made progress in reducing these crimes, pressing concerns remain for residents, community and business leaders, law enforcement and city officials, prosecutors, public health providers, and more. In response to these concerns, the United States Department of Justice launched the Violent Crime Reduction Roadmap (Roadmap).

On March 27, 2023, the nation suffered a mass shooting at The Covenant School, a parochial school in Nashville, Tennessee. In the incident, three children and three adults were killed by a single armed suspect, who was also killed in the response by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD).

Through the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Student, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Specialized Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) for Law Enforcement Program, the Institute for Intergovernmental Research will be convening the Safer Schools Community of Practice. This community of practice will bring together law enforcement officials, school officials, and other stakeholders to address concerns and challenges related to school safety, uplift best practices, and identify resources to support those in the field.