(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.
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