Maryland Statutes
Subtitle 7 - Local Domestic Violence Fatality Review Teams
Section 4-704 - Purpose

(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.