Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2011

Under the auspices of the Baltimore County Department of Social Services, State Attorney’s Office, and Police Department, a Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team was converted in 2006, following the unanimous passage of a bill entitled “Local Domestic Violence Fatality Review Teams.” Members developed protocols for operating a Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team and began reviewing cases within the year. The goal of the Baltimore County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team (DVFRT) is to prevent intimate partner homicides, decrease near death assaults, and reduce the incident of domestic violence in Baltimore County communities. By netter understanding the life of the victim, the circumstances that led to her/his death, the County hopes to strengthen the response of future victims. The DVFRT reviews and analyzes selected domestic violence cases, resulting in a fatality or near fatality, with the purpose of: identifying gaps in service, recognizing patterns that may indicate escalating violence and the threat of death, assess the current responses of the criminal justice and social services systems to domestic violence victims, promote support, cooperation, and communication among Baltimore County and Maryland State agencies, and Formulate findings and recommendations aimed at improving the community system of prevention and intervention.