COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA. Domestic Violence Council Committee: Domestic Violence Death Review Committee

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Eunice Henry
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1 COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA Domestic Violence Council Committee: Domestic Violence Death Review Committee FY Committee Chair(s): James Gibbons-Shapiro, District Attorney s Office Committee Members: Adriana Caldera, YWCA, Silicon Valley Amy Caffrey, Domestic Violence Council Lt. April McHugh, Santa Clara County Sheriff s Office Barbara Krzyckowska, MFT, Community Psychotherapy Institute Bart Sloan, Santa Clara County Probation Department Brenda Farrell-Thomas, MFT, Family Court Services Brian Welch, Santa Clara County District Attorney s Office Carmen Vargas, Santa Clara County Probation Department Carol Turner, Santa Clara County Probation Department Caroline Jiminez, Santa Clara County District Attorney s Office Christiana Blawie, Pretrial Services Claudia Pedroza, Next Door Solutions Lt. Craig Anderson, Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety Cynthia Guzman, DFCS Cynthia Spencer, Children s Attorney Capt. Dalia Rodriguez, Santa Clara County Sheriff s Office Medical Examiner Coroner s Office Dan Accardo, Los Gatos Police Department Capt. Dan Rodriguez, Santa Clara County Sheriff s Office Daniel Bybee, Palo Alto Police Department

April McHugh, Santa Clara County Sheriff s Office Barbara Krzyckowska, MFT, Community Psychotherapy Institute Bart Sloan, Santa Clara County Probation Department Brenda Farrell-Thomas, MFT, Family

2 Denise Henderson, YWCA Support Network Diana Fuentes, Next Door Solutions Fatima Silva, Community Solutions Frank Del Fiugo, MFT, Turning Point Counseling Ivonne Zelaya, Santa Clara County District Attorney s Office Lt. James Ford, San Jose Police Department, Family Violence Division Jamie Field, Los Gatos Police Department Jeanine McKelvey, LACY Julie Saffren, Family Law Attorney Lindsay Walsh, Santa Clara County District Attorney s Office Lulu Lopez, Community Solutions Marla Allen LCSW, Department of Family and Children Services Martha DeJesus, Santa Clara County Probation Department Melina Garcia, Next Door Solutions Melissa Luke, AACI Dr. Michael Kerner, Clinical Psychologist Dr. Michelle Jorden, Ph.D., Santa Clara County Medical Examiner/Coroner s Office Mike Kihmm, San Jose Police Department Mindy Zen, Morgan Hill Police Department Nancy Marshall, Director, DVIC Perla Flores, Community Solutions Saher Stephan, SV Faces - Victim Witness Assistance Sarah Scofield, LCSW, Director Family Court Services Steve Baron, Santa Clara University Dr. Susan Ditter, M.D., Santa Clara County Department of Mental Health

James Ford, San Jose Police Department, Family Violence Division Jamie Field, Los Gatos Police Department Jeanine McKelvey, LACY Julie Saffren, Family Law Attorney Lindsay Walsh, Santa Clara County

3 Committee Meeting Time/Place: Third Thursday of the Month, 8:00 a.m., Medical Examiner s Office at 850 Thornton Way, San Jose Mission Statement: To review all domestic violence related deaths in Santa Clara County in order to identify additional needed services and potential gaps in the system. The Santa Clara County Domestic Violence Death Review Committee will then make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors for action which could save future lives. We will also educate other professionals, lay persons and community members on our findings. Historical Background: Founded more than fifteen years ago, the Domestic Violence Death Review Team was one of the first in the country to analyze every domestic violence death in the county and to look for ways the community of advocates, police, prosecutors, medical professionals, academics and others could work to reduce the number of those deaths. Today, this committee is strong and vibrant in its continued dedication to saving the lives of domestic violence victims.

The Santa Clara County Domestic Violence Death Review Committee will then make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors for action which could save future lives.

4 FY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DEATH REVIEW COMMITTEE WORK PLAN GOAL/OBJECTIVE PROPOSED ACTIVITIES PRIORITY RANKING 1. Complete review of all domestic Beginning in January of each year we will start violence related homicides, suicides, the review of all domestic violence related blue suicides and fatal accident cases deaths. We conclude that work in December. by the Domestic Violence Death 1 Review Committee (DVDRC) TIMELINE FOR COMPLETION December, Volunteering to present at all local and national conferences aimed at the formation or development of Death Review Teams. Committee members also volunteer to present at DV forums and community events. 3. Reporting the death statistics to the community at large including the findings and recommendations of the committee. The names of victim/their children and perpetrators are kept confidential. Committee members are requested to present at various activities and training throughout the year. The details of the trainings are covered at the beginning of each committee meeting and are recorded in the minutes. We lecture on Death Review to professional and lay groups. We propose to do at least 20 such presentations this year including presenting at the annual Domestic Violence Council Conference in Oct The annual Death Review Report is completed at the end of each year and prepared for dissemination to the public in February of the following year. 3 December, February, 2015 FY ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DEATH REVIEW COMMITTEE

cases deaths. We conclude that work in December. by the Domestic Violence Death 1 Review Committee (DVDRC) TIMELINE FOR COMPLETION December, 2014 2.

5 GOAL/OBJECTIVE ACTIVITIES SUPPORTING GOAL STATUS 1. Complete review of all domestic violence related homicides, suicides, blue suicides and fatal accident cases by the Domestic Violence Death Review Committee (DVDRC) Beginning in January of each year we will start the review of all domestic violence related deaths. We conclude that work in December. COMPLETED 2. Volunteering to present at all local and national conferences aimed at the formation or development of Death Review Teams. Committee members also volunteer to present at DV forums and community events. 3. Reporting the death statistics to the community at large including the findings and recommendations of the committee. The names of victim/their children and perpetrators are kept confidential. Committee members are requested to present at various activities and training throughout the year. The details of the trainings are covered at the beginning of each committee meeting and are recorded in the minutes. We lecture on Death Review to professional and lay groups. We propose to do at least 20 such presentations this year including presenting at the annual Domestic Violence Council Conference in Oct The annual Death Review Report is completed at the end of each year and prepared for dissemination to the public in February of the following year. PARTIALLY COMPLETED COMPLETED 4. On-going review of Lethality This is an on-going process ONGOING Assessment Tools 5. Work with local official and Create procedures to contact local agencies regarding PARTIALLY

we will start the review of all domestic violence related deaths. We conclude that work in December. COMPLETED 2.

6 community members to update laws, procedures and policies to increase victim safety. 6. Update method for documenting risk factors methods to combat all forms of domestic violence Review current policies and procedures used by the DVDRT and determine if there are specific risk factors that should be documented. COMPLETED (studied bail for domestic violence cases in 7 neighboring counties and proposed bail increase for Santa Clara County) ONGOING ONGOING PROJECTS GOAL/OBJECTIVE ACTIVITIES SUPPORTING GOAL STATUS 1. On-going review of Lethality This is an on-going process ONGOING Assessment Tools 2. Work with local official and community members to update laws, procedures and policies to increase victim safety. Create procedures to contact local agencies regarding methods to combat all forms of domestic violence ONGOING 3. Update method for documenting risk factors Review current policies and procedures used by the DVDRT and determine if there are specific risk factors that should be documented. ONGOING

ANNUAL REPORT JANUARY 1 DECEMBER 31, 2013

SANTA CLARA COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COUNCIL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DEATH REVIEW COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT JANUARY 1 DECEMBER 31, 2013 SPEAK UP - SAVE LIVES Santa Clara County Domestic Violence Council Website: