State Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team 2025 Annual Report

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

Requires a 2025 annual DVFRT report detailing fatalities, risk factors, system gaps, and evidence-based policy and resource recommendations to prevent future harm.

Placed on file

Summary: SD 3904 (194th MA Legislature) – State Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team 2025 Annual Report

Purpose and intent

Establishes requirements related to the annual reporting by the Massachusetts State Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team (DVFRT) for the year 2025.

Aims to promote accountability, data-driven prevention, and informed policy development by detailing findings from domestic violence fatalities and high-risk cases reviewed by the DVFRT.

Key provisions and changes

Annual Report Requirement: The bill mandates that the State DVFRT prepare and publish a comprehensive annual report for 2025.

Content of the Report: The annual report must include:

An overview of domestic violence fatalities and near-fatal incidents reviewed by the DVFRT during the year.
Analyses of commonRisk factors, triggers, and sequences leading to fatalities or near-fatal events.
Identification of gaps in systems (e.g., law enforcement, courts, social services, health care) that could be addressed to prevent future harm.
Recommendations for evidence-based interventions, policy changes, and resource allocation to reduce domestic violence fatalities.
Information on coordination and communication among agencies involved in DVFRT reviews.

Data and Privacy: Provisions likely facilitate secure handling of sensitive case information, with attention to privacy protections for victims, families, and individuals involved in the reviewed cases.

Accessibility: The report is expected to be made publicly available and may include executive summaries, clear findings, and actionable recommendations for policymakers and service providers.

Who/what would be affected

State Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team: Responsible for compiling, analyzing, and publishing the 2025 annual report.

State and local agencies: Agencies involved in domestic violence response (e.g., law enforcement, courts, child welfare, health and behavioral health systems) may rely on the report for performance improvement and policy formulation.

Policy makers, service providers, advocates, and the public: Beneficiaries of the report’s findings and recommendations, using the information to guide prevention efforts and resource allocation.

Privacy/protection considerations: Cases included in the review must balance public reporting with confidentiality for victims and families.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Status: Placed on file (as of 2026-05-11), indicating the bill has been presented and is awaiting further action or disposition.

Timeline specifics: The bill centers on the 2025 annual report; it may set deadlines for the DVFRT to publish the report within a defined timeframe after the year’s end (e.g., by a set date in 2026), though exact dates are not specified in the summary provided.

Next steps: If advanced, the bill would likely requireDVFRT to coordinate with relevant state agencies and to submit the report to the legislature and make it publicly accessible.

Potential impact

Enhanced understanding of domestic violence fatalities in Massachusetts for 2025.

Data-driven guidance to improve prevention strategies, cross-agency collaboration, and policy reforms.

Increased transparency and accountability of DVFRT activities and outcomes.

May prompt targeted investments in services and system improvements aimed at reducing domestic violence fatalities and near-fatal incidents.