(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.
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