Domestic Violence Fatality Review In Pennsylvania

Given the high death toll domestic violence has consistently taken, PCADV has established the statewide Domestic Violence Fatality Review Project to ascertain the potential areas of improvement in prevention, intervention, and response efforts.

Domestic Violence Fatality Review Advisory Group

In 2004, PCADV convened a statewide advisory group to assess local fatality review teams recommendations from a statewide perspective and to help where possible with implementing the recommended changes. The statewide advisory group is well attended by local fatality review team representatives, including the Pennsylvania State Police, the District Attorneys Association, the Coroners Association, the Sheriffs Association, the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, the Office of the Victim Advocate, the Attorney Generals Office, the disabilities community, batterers intervention services, members of the bench, legislative staff, domestic violence advocates, and many others. This group of organizations and individuals comprising the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Advisory Group has unanimously agreed to direct its efforts toward the following duties:

• Advise and consult with Domestic Violence Fatality Review Teams (Teams) in Pennsylvania
• Provide education and technical assistance to Teams
• Develop minimum data collection guidelines for Teams
• Receive summary fatality review reports and recommendations from the Teams
• Analyze data from the Teams reports to identify statewide trends and patterns associated with domestic violence related fatalities
• Recommend changes to domestic violence prevention, intervention, and investigation efforts and monitor the implementation of these recommendations
• Prepare an annual report of findings, recommendations, and steps taken to implement recommendations

Essentially, the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Advisory Group is charged with supporting and assisting the Teams; coordinating, collating, and analyzing the data produced by the Teams; and producing statewide recommendations for system improvement based on this information. Members of the Advisory Group have made the commitment to take this information back to their systems and work toward positive change.

Structure of the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Project

The mission and objectives will be achieved by using a partnership structure between a state-level Domestic Violence Fatality Review Advisory Group and local, community-based domestic violence fatality review teams. This two-level (state/local) structure allows for flexibility at the local level to accommodate varying procedures, and continuity and comparability of information at the state level.

Purpose of Fatality Reviews

The fatality review process assumes that the circumstances of untimely deaths are likely to be repeated and that detailed examination can lead to important insights regarding risks, intervention, and prevention efforts. The process rests on the notion that in-depth analysis of a small number of cases can provide a window into problems with system response, which may affect a large number of people. The goal of fatality review is not to blame or point fingers at any one system or entity; rather, the goal is a focused, multidisciplinary examination into the circumstances surrounding a fatal incident for insight into how future deaths may be prevented through strengthening our systemic responses.

Mission of the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Project

The mission of the PCADVs Domestic Violence Fatality Review Project is to examine domestic violence-related homicides and suicides in an effort to reduce domestic violence in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In achieving this overarching mission, the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Project will direct its efforts toward the following objectives:

• Improve public and systems understanding of domestic violence;
• Increase safety for victims and accountability for perpetrators of domestic violence; and
• Initiate recommendations for systems enhancements to improve domestic violence investigation, intervention, and prevention.

Local Fatality Review Teams

Pennsylvania is home to seven local domestic violence and/or womens death review teams. As of 2007, existing teams are located in Berks, Bucks, Cambria, Centre, Montgomery, York, and Philadelphia counties. These teams review homicides, suicides, suspicious deaths, and occasionally critical incidents. The examination of these incidents leads to recommendations for improvement in systems, enhanced prevention and intervention strategies, and greater coordination among systems responding to domestic violence. Recommendations from these teams range from changing an intake form for a local healthcare provider to creating new statewide laws to address a particular issue. PCADVs Domestic Violence Fatality Review Project helps to promote and enhance the successes of these existing fatality reviews.