Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team
The County of San Diego Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team (DVFRT) is a coordinated effort between the San Diego County District Attorney's Office and more than 25 agencies and departments in San Diego County. The team was first established in April 1996 by the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors and the team began assembling in October of 1996.
DVFRT Mission
The County of San Diego Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team seeks to identify system-based opportunities for improvements in violence prevention and intervention policies, procedures, and coordinated strategies, make recommendations for system change and raise public awareness about intimate partner violence.
What Do Fatality Review Teams Do?
- Identify deaths - both homicides and suicides related to domestic violence.
- Examine the effects of all domestic violence interventions that took place with the victim and batterer prior to the death(s).
- Consider changes in prevention and intervention systems to help prevent such deaths in the future.
- Develop recommendations for coordinated community prevention and intervention initiatives to improve system response and reduce domestic violence.
Multidisciplinary Review Team
The County of San Diego Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team (DVFRT) is a multi-disciplinary review team comprised of representatives from the San Diego District Attorney's Office, Medical Examiner's Office, San Diego DV Council, San Diego City Attorney's Office, Sheriff's Department, San Diego Police Department, Chula Vista Police Department , Probation Department, Parole, San Diego Family Justice Center, Child Welfare Services (HHSA), Rady Children's Hospital, Family Court Services, County SD Behavioral Health Services, Juvenile Probation Department, Public Health Nursing (HHSA), Aging and Independence Services (HHSA), Navy Fleet and Family Support, USMC Family Advocacy, Southern Indian Health Council, DV Shelter and Support Services, License to Freedom, Offender Treatment, and San Diego Unified School District.
Confidential
The DVFRT meets six times annually. All meetings are closed sessions and kept strictly confidential. Each member is required to sign a Confidentiality Statement. All records and discussions shared during case review are protected under California Penal Code Sections 11163.3-11163.6 CA Penal Code 11160 - 11163.6 Domestic Violence
Reports
Current DVFRT Program Coordinator
Terra K. Marroquin, MSW
DVFRT Coordinator
Family Protection Division
San Diego County District Attorney
Terra.Marroquin@sdcda.org
More Information on DV Fatality Review
National Domestic Violence Fatality Review Initiative
U.S. Department of Justice - Bureau of Justice Statistics
Reviewing Domestic Violence Deaths by Neil Websdale