"An Act relating to domestic violence fatality review teams."

HB 398 is legislation that empowers municipalities and cities throughout the State of Alaska to create a Domestic Violence Fatality Review Teams.

Unfortunately, a growing number of homicides in Alaska are domestic violence related. In the year 2002 11 out of 18, or 61% of the homicides in Anchorage were a result of domestic violence.

We learn from the past that domestic violence fatalities are handled through the justice system. However, this process does little to review the effectiveness of the systems in place, which protects those vulnerable to domestic violence. The purpose of Domestic Fatality Review Teams is to gain knowledge and insight to more effectively prevent domestic violence fatalities.

This legislation authorizes the State of Alaska and its municipalities to empower teams to systematically review facts of escalating cases of domestic violence fatalities. These teams could identify potential changes in policies, procedures, and protocols leading to the prevention of such crimes.

The legislation would provide state and local governments with additional tools to gather information on many aspects of domestic violence. This information could then be used to create legislation to combat domestic violence.

With the creation of such review teams the legislature will help stop these devastating crimes.

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