Office of Justice for Victims
of Overseas Terrorism
In May 2005, U.S. Attorney General Alberto
R. Gonzales announced the establishment
of an Office of Justice for Victims of Overseas
Terrorism to ensure that the investigation
and prosecution of terrorist attacks against
American citizens abroad remain a high priority
of the Department of Justice.
The office will be established within the
Office of the Assistant Attorney General
of the Criminal Division of the Department
of Justice. The Assistant Attorney General
will appoint a senior official to serve as
Director of the office, and the FBI, along
with the Criminal Division’s Counterterrorism
Section, the Office of International Affairs
and the Office of Enforcement Operations,
will designate liaisons to the new office.
The office will be responsible for: monitoring
the investigation and prosecution of terrorist
attacks against Americans abroad; working
with the Criminal Division’s Victim-Witness
Coordinator, the FBI, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices
and other departmental components to ensure
that the rights of victims and their families
are honored and respected; establishing a
Joint Task Force with the Department of State;
compiling pertinent data and statistics;
responding to congressional and citizen inquiries
on the Department’s response to terrorist
attacks on Americans overseas; and filing
any necessary reports with Congress.
“This new office guarantees a voice
for victims and their families in the investigation
and prosecution of terrorists who prey on
Americans overseas,” said Attorney
General Gonzales. “Our commitment to
these victims is as strong as our dedication
to bringing their terrorist attackers to
justice.”
The joint task force to be established with
the Department of State was outlined in the
2005 Omnibus Appropriations Act approved
by Congress. The task force, consisting of
Justice Department and State Department personnel,
will be activated in the event of a terrorist
incident against American citizens overseas.
Sources: U.S.
Department of the Treasury |