NCJ Number
200891
Date Published
2001
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This document presents information on the reporting methods of the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Teams in Florida.
Abstract
These teams were first formed in the mid-1990's. Their goal is to examine in depth cases that result in a domestic violence fatality to try to identify potential changes in policy or procedures that might prevent a future death. The teams work independently and are comprised of representatives from law enforcement, the courts, social services, State Attorneys, domestic violence centers, and others that may come in contact with domestic violence victims and perpetrators. Legislation in 2000 called for the development of a standard data collection form to gather information from the local Fatality Review Teams to publish in an annual State-level report. Sixteen teams began using this standard data collection form in January 2001. Because actual standardized data collection did not begin until this year, the first report contains very little data. It provides background information about the development of the Fatality Review Teams, as well as a progress report on the implementation of the data-reporting program. The data reported is based on only eight cases and is meant to demonstrate the kind of information that is now being collected and will be available for publication in future years. A summary of the details of these eight deaths includes: (1) the majority of deaths were by an intimate partner and the cause of death was handgun; (2) most decedents were employed, white females; (3) the majority of decedents had a known history of being a victim of domestic violence; (4) all suicides committed by perpetrators involved a gunshot wound; and (5) half of the cases had a significant change in relationship.