Current with changes from the 2024 Legislative Session
(a) The purpose of a local team is to prevent deaths related to domestic violence by:(1) promoting cooperation and coordination among agencies involved in: (i) investigating deaths related to domestic violence; or(ii) providing services to victims of domestic violence, abusers, or surviving family members;(2) developing an understanding of the causes and incidence of deaths related to domestic violence in the county; and(3) developing plans for and recommending changes within the agencies the members represent.(b) To achieve its purpose, a local team shall:(1) establish and implement a protocol for the local team;(2) as provided in subsection (c) of this section, review fatalities and cases of serious physical injury related to domestic violence that have occurred in the county;(3) meet on a regular basis as determined by the local team, at least annually, to:(i) review the status of domestic violence fatality cases in the county;(ii) recommend actions to improve coordination of services and investigations among member agencies; and(iii) recommend actions within the member agencies to prevent deaths related to domestic violence; and(4) provide reports that include recommendations:(i) to improve coordination of services and investigations;(ii) to implement changes recommended by the local team within member agencies; and(iii) on needed changes to State and local law, policy, and practice to prevent deaths related to domestic violence.(c)(1) In accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection, a local team shall determine the number and types of cases the team will review.(2) A local team may review criminal cases only at the conclusion of the case in trial court or after the investigation of a suicide has been closed.