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SD 25

Massachusetts State Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team 2024 Report

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

Massachusetts creates a Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team to investigate DV-related deaths, identify systemic failures, and recommend preventive reforms across state agencies.

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Bill Summary · SD 25

Legislative bill overview

This bill establishes a State Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team in Massachusetts to systematically investigate and analyze deaths resulting from domestic violence incidents. The team would examine circumstances, identify systemic failures, and make recommendations to prevent future fatalities across state agencies and institutions.

Why is this important

Domestic violence fatalities represent preventable tragedies that often involve multiple agencies (police, courts, social services, healthcare) that may have had prior contact with victims or perpetrators. A coordinated review process can identify gaps in coordination, warning signs, and policy failures that contributed to deaths, potentially leading to legislative and procedural reforms that save lives.

Potential points of contention

  • Resource allocation: Establishing a new state review team requires funding and staffing, raising questions about budget priorities and whether resources should instead go directly to victim services
  • Privacy and liability concerns: Detailed case reviews of deaths may involve sensitive family information and could expose agencies to legal liability based on findings
  • Effectiveness questions: Similar teams in other states have had mixed results in preventing future deaths; some argue the focus should be on enforcement of existing protections rather than post-incident analysis

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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