§ 4–704
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Fam. Law § 4-704 (2026)
Title 4. Spouses
Subtitle 7. Local Domestic Violence Fatality Review Teams
§ 4–704LinkCopy Citation
(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.