NCJ Number
191667
Date Published
2001
Length
42 pages
Annotation
This protocol contains recommendations on Domestic Violence Death Review Team (DVDRT) structure, procedures and policies that appear to be working and which should prove helpful in establishing additional DVDRT's in California.
Abstract
The concept of the Domestic Violence Death Review Team (DVDRT) grew out of the collaborative efforts between legal, health, criminal justice, advocacy and judicial groups that had been developing across the nation for several years. The DVDRT model is based on the original Los Angeles County Child Death Review Team (CDRT) begun in 1978. A major role of CDRT's was to function as a case-investigating agency, providing in-depth analysis by many agencies on the possible causes of infant deaths in specific cases. However, despite the many successes experienced by CDRT's, several public agencies were reluctant to participate in the review of domestic violence-related deaths via a DVDRT without statutory authority. In 1995, the California Legislature passed a bill (Penal Code section 11163.3) authorizing counties to establish interagency DVDRT's to assist local agencies in identifying and reviewing domestic violence deaths, and facilitating communications among the various agencies involved in domestic violence cases. This protocol is designed to assist counties in developing effective DVDRTs. It includes chapters on the purpose of domestic violence death review teams, team membership, the case review process, confidentiality in the case review process, data collection, and recommendations for improving the domestic violence system. Appendices include Penal Code sections 11163.3-11163.6, California domestic violence death review teams, domestic violence death review matrix, sample confidentiality agreement, and sample data collection form.