2015 Conference Fatality Review - Communities and Social Change - Getting Started Monday, May 18, 2015 New York State Fatality Review Team Yavapai County Domestic Violence Fatality/Near Fatality Review Team Florida Statewide Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team Fairfax County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team

2015 Conference Fatality Review - Communities and Social Change - Getting Started ~ Reasons Behind Formation ~ ~ Methodologies ~ ~ Scope of Review Process ~ ~ Challenges and Successes ~ ~ Annual Report and Implementing Change ~

REASONS BEHIND FORMATION

NYS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FATALITY REVIEW TEAM  NYS: 75 – 90 IP homicides annually over the last 5 years  Usually about half in NYC and half in the rest of the state  Statewide Fatality Review Team created by legislation passed in 2012  NYC Team does aggregate review  Team maintains a “no blame” philosophy  Goals:  To examine the trends and patterns of domestic violence in NYS  To educate the public, service providers, and policymakers about domestic violence fatalities in NYS  To recommend policies, practices, procedures, and services to reduce fatalities due to domestic violence.

FLORIDA STATEWIDE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FATALITY REVIEW  One of the only states to have both a statewide team and local teams  Created in 2009 is co-chaired by Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence (FCADV)  24 local teams throughout the state  The statewide team reviews cases that have not been reviewed by a local team and analyzes data collected by local teams  All of the teams operate from a no blame no shame philosophy

FAIRFAX COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FATALITY REVIEW TEAM  1.1 million residents; 400 square miles  49% of students speak a language other than English; 170 languages  Low Homicide Rate (~15 a year)  IPV accounts for ½ of homicides  Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team 16 members; 1 staff (approx 0.10 FTE on project) Co-Chaired by Police and Prosecutor Bi-Monthly (every other month) meetings

YAVAPAI COUNTY VIOLENCE FATALITY/NEAR FATALITY REVIEW TEAM (YCDVFRT)  To recommend policies, practices, procedures, and services to prevent and reduce domestic violence  Identify methods of intervention and prevention  Strengthen response to domestic violence  Educate the public, service providers, and policymakers about domestic violence fatalities  Enhance communication among community stakeholders

METHODOLOGIES Identify Need Legislation/ Statute Team Membership/ Stakeholders Bylaws &Team Documents

METHODOLOGIES  All information and records are CONFIDENTIAL  Review team meetings are CLOSED to the public  Statute defines what kinds of cases can be reviewed Legislation /Statute

METHODOLOGIES Team Membership/ Stakeholders  Range of team member selection  Why, How, Who  State laws sometimes mandate and oftentimes recommend team membership

METHODOLOGIES Bylaws/Team Documents  Bylaws  Confidentiality Agreement/Sign in Sheet  Records Holder  Information sharing within team

CASE SELECTION AND SCOPE OF REVIEW Meeting Logistics Where? How Long? How Often? Case Selection

CASE SELECTION AND SCOPE OF REVIEW Collaborators from varied agencies Membership varies per team Who? Closed cases Adults only Murder/Suicide What? Varies per team When? Case Selection Yavapai County Domestic Violence Fatality/Near Fatality Review Team (YCDVFRT)

CASE SELECTION AND SCOPE OF REVIEW How Often? How Long? Where? Law Enforcement Jurisdiction

CASE SELECTION AND SCOPE OF REVIEW Meeting Logistics  Agenda  Information Sharing and Team Member Contribution  Timeline of Events  Red Flags  Community Agency and Organization Involvement

SUCCESSES  Increased Collaboration  Responsiveness of communities  Team commitment to the process  Continuity

CHALLENGES  Funding  Appeals and Civil Suits  Finding friends and family members to interview  Continuity  Changes in team leadership  Addition of non-system players  Community priorities

ANNUAL REPORT & IMPLEMENTING CHANGE  Summarize Review into a Workable Document  Disseminate Findings  Implement Recommendations

IN CLOSING…

CONTACT INFORMATION Fairfax County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team Sandy Bromley Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence Cynthia Rubenstein New York State DVFRT Mary Walsh Yavapai County DVFRT Detective James Tobin Prescott Valley Police Department Michelle Medina Prescott Police Department