Abstract
Domestic violence fatality review (DVFR) involves multidisciplinary teams examining deaths and near deaths “caused by, related to, or somehow traceable to domestic violence” (Websdale 2012, p. 27). These cases include single and multiple homicides, homicide-suicides, familicides in which a perpetrator may kill the entire family, bystander deaths, and suicides of victims and perpetrators outside of the context of a homicide. Some teams review deaths due to homelessness, HIV, or other factors that may be linked to domestic violence. The scope of cases largely depends on statutory and team guidelines.
The authors of this chapter have collective decades of experience conducting domestic violence fatality reviews. In order to address the ethical complexities of engaging in this work, we draw both from the limited available scholarly research as well as our own case reviews and technical assistance provision.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Aiken, A. (2014). ‘Confidentiality: Frequently Asked Questions’. National Domestic Violence Review Initiative Newsletter Vol. II, http://www.ndvfri.org/newsletters/Confidentiality%202014%20Vol.%20II.pdf.
Albright, D., Banks, L., Broidy, L., Crandall, C., & Campos, G. (2013). ‘Ethical Conundrums in Fatality Review Planning, Data Collection, and Reporting: Viewing the Work of Review Teams Through the Lens of Evaluation’. Homicide Studies, 17(4): 436–456.
An Interview with Susan Carbon, Fatality Review. (2014). Video, National Domestic Violence Fatality Review Initiative website, August 16–17, http://www.ndvfri.org/video.php#expert.
Bent-Goodley, T. (2013). ‘Domestic Violence Fatality Reviews and the African American Community’. Homicide Studies, 17(4): 375–390.
Bostrom, S. P. (2010). ‘A Survivor’s Point of View.’ National Domestic Violence Review Initiative Fatality Review Bulletin Summer, http://www.ndvfri.org/newsletters/NDVFRI_Newsletter_2010Summer.pdf.
Bugeja, L., Butler, A., Buxton, E., Ehrat, H., Hayes, M., McIntyre, S., & Walsh, C. (2013). ‘The Implementation of Domestic Violence Death Reviews in Australia’. Homicide Studies, 17(4): 353–374.
Bugeja, L., Dawson, M., McIntyre, S., & Walsh, C. (2015). ‘Domestic/Family Violence Death Reviews: An International Comparison’. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 16(2): 179–187.
Catalano, S., Smith, E., Snyder, H., & Rand, E. (2009). ‘Female Victims of Violence’. Bureau of Justice Statistics: Selected Findings, http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/fvv.pdf.
Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinion No. (2014-4). http://www.mass.gov/courts/case-legal-res/ethics-opinions/judicial-ethics-opinions/cje-2014-4.html.
David, N. (2007). ‘Exploring the Use of Domestic Violence Fatality Review Teams’. Australian Domestic & Family Violence Clearinghouse Issues Paper 15.
Ethics Committee of the State Bar of Montana. (2007). ‘Ethics Opinion: Fatality Review May Receive Confidential Information’. Montana Lawyer June/July, http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.montanabar.org/resource/collection/EAA30F23-4767-49DA-BBE7-152CF93C8535/JuneJuly2007MTLawyer.pdf.
Georgia Domestic Violence Fatality Review Project. (2015). ‘Near Fatality Policies and Procedures.’ Georgia Commission on Family Violence, http://www.ndvfri.org/conference-documents/Georgia%20Domestic%20Violence%20Fatality%20Review%20Project%20Near%20Fatality%20Policies%20and%20Procedures%20.pdf.
Gray, C. (2002). ‘Ethics and Judges’ Evolving Roles Off the Bench: Serving on Governmental Commissions. State Justice Institute.
Jaffe, P., & Juodis, M. (2006). ‘Children as Victims and Witnesses of Domestic Homicide: Lessons Learned from Domestic Violence Death Review Committees’. Juvenile and Family Court Journal, 57(3): 13–28.
Jaffe, P., Dawson, M., & Campbell, M. (2013). ‘Canadian Perspectives on Preventing Domestic Homicides: Developing a National Collaborative Approach to Domestic Homicide Review Committees’. Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice, 55(1): 137–155.
Montana Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission. (2010). Montana Fatality Review Team Confidentiality Agreement, http://www.ndvfri.org/documents/montana/Montana_Statewide_Confidentiality%20Agreement_2010.pdf.
Mullane, F. (2010). ‘The Victim’s Perspective Should Permeate Domestic Violence Murder Reviews.’ National Domestic Violence Review Initiative Fatality Review Bulletin Summer, http://www.ndvfri.org/newsletters/NDVFRI_Newsletter_2010Summer.pdf.
National Center for the Review and Prevention of Child Deaths. (n.d.) ‘History of CDR in the United States’, https://www.childdeathreview.org/cdr-programs/history-of-cdr-in-the-us/.
New Mexico Intimate Partner Violent Death Review Team. (2016). ‘Annual Report 2015’, http://www.nmcadv.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2015-IPVDRT-ANNUAL-REPORT-Final-1.5.2016.pdf.
S.T.O.P. in Action: Montana/Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission. (2011). Video, National Domestic Violence Fatality Review Initiative website, https://vimeo.com/15147441.
Storer, H., Lindhorst, T., & Starr, K. (2013). ‘The Domestic Violence Fatality Review: Can It Mobilize Community-Level Change?’. Homicide Studies, 17(4): 418–435.
Thompson, R. (2002). ‘Confidentiality and Fatality Review’. National Domestic Violence Review Initiative Fatality Review Bulletin Winter, 1(3), http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/29509.pdf.
Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence. (2009). ‘In the Event of My Death’ Release of Information, http://wscadv.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/In-the-Event-of-My-Death-form.pdf.
Watt, K. (2008). ‘Understanding Risk Factors for Intimate Partner Femicide: The Role of Domestic Violence Fatality Review Teams’, in A. C. Baldry & F. W. Winkel (eds) Intimate Partner Violence Prevention and Intervention. (New York: Nova Science Publishers).
Websdale, N. (2010). ‘Of Nuclear Missiles and Love Objects: The Humiliated Fury of Kevin Jones’. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 39(4): 388–420.
Websdale, N. (2012). ‘Community, Civic Engagement, and Democracy: The Case of Domestic Violence Fatality Review’. National Civic Review, 101(2): 27–33.
Websdale, N., Town, M., & Johnson, B. (1999). ‘Domestic Violence Fatality Reviews: From a Culture of Blame to a Culture of Safety’. Juvenile and Family Court Journal, 50(2): 61–74.
Wilson, J. S., & Websdale, N. (2006). ‘Domestic Violence Fatality Review Teams: An Interprofessional Model to Reduce Deaths’. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 20(5): 535–544.
Zollo, N. (2008). ‘Honoring the Domestic Violence Survivor’s Right to Confidentiality in Fatality Review’. National Domestic Violence Review Initiative Fatality Review Bulletin Spring, http://www.ndvfri.org/newsletters/NDVFRI_Newsletter_2008March.pdf.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2017 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Dale, M., Celaya, A., Mayer, S.J. (2017). Ethical Conundrums in the Establishment and Operation of Domestic/Family Violence Fatality Reviews. In: Dawson, M. (eds) Domestic Homicides and Death Reviews. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-56276-0_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-56276-0_8
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-137-56275-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-56276-0
eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)