NCJ Number
199480
Date Published
2001
Length
47 pages
Annotation
This document discusses the work of the County of San Diego's Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team (DVFRT) from its inception in October 1996.
Abstract
The team meets monthly to review fatalities from intimate relationship violence. The team also develops prevention and intervention strategies and policy recommendations to help communities implement long-term solutions. The team decides if the case falls into an intervenable (at the agency, individual/family, or public policy levels), not intervenable (no opportunity to intervene), or undetermined category. Risk factors are identified at this time and policy recommendations for systematic changes are developed. Between 1996 and 2000, the team considered 43 cases. Thirty-seven cases were chosen for review because they had completed the court appeals process and met the team’s definition of intimate partner, domestic violence-related homicides. Of the 37 cases reviewed, there were 26 female deaths. There were 8 male victims of the 11 male deaths. Firearms were used in 62 percent of the homicides, and knives in 22 percent. Twenty-four percent of the cases included both homicide and suicide. The risk factors that represent some of the more common circumstances surrounding the cases reviewed by the team included escalation of abuse prior to the victim’s homicide; graphic threats by the perpetrator to kill the victim; and Temporary Restraining Order violations. Additional risk factors were law enforcement called out on previous domestic violence incidents with this couple; perpetrator’s access to firearms; and victim leaving the relationship. Recommendations for individuals were to find ways to encourage victims to disclose their history of violence and abuse; and increase education for male victims in domestic violence relationships to report the abuse to law enforcement and seek help. Recommendations for families were to create and institute bilingual/bicultural domestic violence education campaigns and encourage family and friends to report domestic violence to law enforcement. 3 appendices