The Associate Press reported yesterday that the panel led by W. Gerald Massengil investigating the incident would be allowed to review limited health information and that family members of the victims of the massacre are attempting to obtain position (s) on the panel.

There are two issues, one involving release of health information and the other is the complex role of the victim (in this case, family members of the victims) in the justice process. The criminal justice system has evolved into complex, formal, and centralized government function that attempts to administer justice based on facts of the case, and not emotion. Aside from a Victim Impact Statement (VIS) that a judge can review prior to sentencing, the individual role of the victim beyond witness testimony is very limited. Emotional, heart wrenching incidents such as the Virginia Tech massacre sometimes compel us to reflect on what, if any, should be the role in administering justice.

This is exacerbated considering the contemporary threats to the United States and the role of the victim and victim’s family after a large scale disaster or terror attack. What should be the role of the victim in the process and what is the responsibility of the government in the long term?

Joseph Pascarella

Dr. Pascarella made a sobering opening post regarding the recent tragic events at Virginia Tech. Our condolences go out to the families of those lost in this tragedy.

I’ll add that on May 15, 2007, Steven J. Healy, President of IACLEA (International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators) presented to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor a report entitled “Best Practices for Making College Campuses Safe”. One of the recommendations is the establishment of a “National Center for Campus Public Safety”, which I believe can only help enhance safety on our campuses.

Please let us know your thoughts about campus safety.

Thanks

The Associated Press reported on Thursday that the Governor of Virginia, Timothy M. Kaine, has appointed an eight member panel headed by W. Gerald Massengill a retired official of the Virginia State Police to investigate the horrific events that occurred at Virginia Tech University on Monday April 19, 2007, when a 23-year-old gunman and student at Virginia Tech, Seung Hui-Cho, murdered 32 students over several hours in two separate attacks before Mr. Hui-Cho committed suicide.

The first attack occurred near Mr. Hui-Cho’s dormitory (at another dormitory) at approximately 7:00 AM in which Mr. Hui-Cho murdered 2 students then apparently, according to preliminary investigators, went to a nearby post office (and perhaps back to his dormitory residence) then headed to an academic hall on campus where classes were in session at approximately 9:42 AM and murdered 30 more students before committing suicide. Two handgunds (a .22 calibre and 9 MM handgun) were recovered at the crime scene. Early investigators estimated that nearly 170 shots were fired.

These types of incidents remind us of the types of dangerous environments that public safety must operate in and how critical first response is to a major incident. These types of incidents are unpredictable, rapidly evolving, and often decisions must be made with very little information and no circumspect. The time gap in this incident is a very unusual circumstance, even in rampage shooting incidents. Primary issues in the review of the Virginia Tech incident will probably focus on the timeline between the first and second incidents.

As we move forward and debate, discuss, and argue about contemporary issues in public safety, never forget the human element involved in public safety and that public safety, in the most basic form, are people trying to save other people’s lives.

Take care and be safe.

Joe Pascarella