Preparing for a Mass Violence Incident in Your Community: Lessons Learned and Strategies to Improve Preparedness Plans to Address Victim Needs

No one wants to think that a mass violence incident (MVI) can occur in their community, but, in reality, MVIs can occur anywhere and at any time. Unfortunately, all communities are at risk for mass violence and must consider how best to collaborate, plan and prepare to respond if one occurs. Prosecutors are a critical piece in both the planning and response to MVI and must be part of any preparedness action. This session will provide an overview of MVIs, who needs to be at the table, how to make any response victim-centered and trauma informed, and how one prosecutor’s office ended up leading a response to a MVI.

Speaker

Elizabeth Cronin, Esq., is an attorney and NMVC Associate Academic Program Director. Immediately prior to her current role, she was appointed by the New York Governor as the Director of the New York State Office of Victim Services where she served for over 10 years. Previously, she was the Director of Legal Affairs for the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Cronin was also a Deputy Bureau Chief for the Special Prosecutions Division at the Westchester County NY District Attorneys’ Office where she handled homicide, sexual assault, child abuse, domestic violence, and elder abuse cases.

She has extensive experience in training and has presented at national and local conferences, including the NCVC National Training Institute, NY Prosecutors Training Institute, Louisiana State Law School Institute of Justice, VOCA Annual Conference, Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Annual Conference, No Victim Left Behind, and National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA), among others.