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An Analysis of 2018 Domestic Violence
Homicides
Report Year 2019
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOMICIDE IN OKLAHOMA
A Report of the Oklahoma Domestic Violence
Fatality Review Board
Cimarron
Beaver Harper
Ellis
Roger Mills
Beckham
Woodward
Woods Alfalfa
Major
Dewey
Custer
Greer Kiowa
Blaine
Caddo
Grant
Garfield
Kingfisher
Kay
Noble
Logan
Canadian Oklahoma
Cleveland
Grady
Osage
2
Creek
Lincoln
Jackson
Tillman
Comanche
Cotton
Stephens
Jefferson
Garvin
Carter
Murray
Love
Pontotoc
Johnston
Coal Atoka
2
Bryan
McIntosh
Pushmataha
Choctaw
McCurtain
LeFlore
Latimer
Haskell
Sequoyah
Muskogee
Tulsa
Cherokee
1
Adair
Ottawa
Washington
Rogers
3
Nowata
Craig
Mayes
Marshall
Harmon
Delaware
Okmulgee 1
2
2
1
Wagoner
22
3 McClain
1 Pawnee
Hughes
Pittsburg
Okfuskee
1 Washita
3
1
2
2
1 Payne
4
2
1 1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
Texas
1 18
3
D o m e s t i c V i o l e n c e H o m i c i d e i n O k l a h o m a | 2 0 1 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t | 1
OklahomaDomesticViolenceFatalityReviewBoard
TABLEOFCONTENTS
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................................................2
OKLAHOMAFATALITYREVIEWBOARDMEMBERS...........................................................................3
KEYREVIEWBOARDFINDINGS2018CASES..........................................................................................4
AtaGlance...................................................................................................................................................................4
ByCounty.....................................................................................................................................................................6
Demographics............................................................................................................................................................7
RelationshipType.....................................................................................................................................................9
CauseofDeath.........................................................................................................................................................10
Homicide‐Suicide...................................................................................................................................................11
Children.....................................................................................................................................................................12
IntimatePartnerHomicide(IPH)....................................................................................................................13
DOMESTICVIOLENCEHOMICIDEBYCOUNTY(1998‐2018).......................................................18
DOMESTICVIOLENCEHOMICIDEBYDISTRICTATTORNEYDISTRICT(1998‐2018)...19
RECOMMENDATIONS.........................................................................................................................................20
UPDATEONSELECTEDPRIORRECOMMENDATIONS......................................................................27
SPOTLIGHT:HomicidePreventionInitiativesinOklahoma..............................................................29
APPENDICES............................................................................................................................................................31
AppendixA–OklahomaDomesticViolenceFatalityReviewBoard...............................................31
AppendixB–DomesticViolenceLethality‐ScreenforFirstResponders.......................................35
AppendixC–ResourcesforProfessionals..................................................................................................36
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Cover:Thehighlightedcountiesandstatisticsonthereportcoverrepresentthe88victims(men,women,andchildren)inourstateidentifiedbytheOklahomaDomesticViolenceFatalityReviewBoardwhodiedbecauseofdomesticviolencein2018.
D o m e s t i c V i o l e n c e H o m i c i d e i n O k l a h o m a | 2 0 1 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t | 2
OklahomaDomesticViolenceFatalityReviewBoard
INTRODUCTION_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[JD(1]
TheOklahomaDomesticViolenceFatalityReviewBoardpresentsthe2019editionofthestatewidepublication, Domestic Violence Homicide in Oklahoma: An Analysis of 2018 Domestic ViolenceHomicides. This report outlines findings and recommendations assembled from our review ofOklahomadomesticviolence‐relatedhomicidecasesidentifiedin2018.
ThepurposeoftheReviewBoardistopreventfuturedomesticviolencefatalitiesbyidentifyinggapsin services and crafting recommendations to improve the coordinated response of individuals,organizations,andagenciesinOklahoma.
OneofthemostsalientlessonsfromreviewingdomesticviolencehomicidesinOklahomaforover20years is that the “safety net” for victims isheld upbymany supports, including the legislature,criminal justice system, lawenforcement,domesticviolence services,medical,mentalhealthandsubstanceabuseservices,andothers.Historyhasprovenvictimsandchildrenaresaferwhenweworktogether.
We hope this report will guide Oklahoma’s legislature, systems, agencies, and communities tocontinueimplementingchangesinpracticeandpolicythatstrengthenourstate’scomprehensiveandcoordinatedresponsetothosewhocontinuesufferingfromtheeffectsofdomesticviolence.
ThankyoutoourstakeholdersforyourcommitmenttotheseissuesandforyourtirelesseffortstocreateasaferOklahomaforvictimsandchildren.
Sincerely,
TheOklahomaDomesticViolenceFatalityReviewBoard
“The significance of the Oklahoma Domestic Violence FatalityReview Board’s work is immeasurable. By compiling andanalyzing this important data, the Review Board provides anoverviewofwherewehavemadeimprovementsandwhereweneed to focusourattention tobetterservevictimsofdomesticviolence moving forward. The thoughtful recommendationsfurther policy discussions and best practices among lawenforcement,governmentagencies,andadvocacyorganizations.Mysinceregratitudeextendstotheboardmembersforlendingtheirpassion,time,andexpertisetoreducingdomesticviolencehomicidesinOklahoma.”–AttorneyGeneralMikeHunter
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OklahomaDomesticViolenceFatalityReviewBoard
BOARDMEMBERSServingJanuarythroughDecember2019
EricPfeifer,M.D.MarcHarrison,M.D.(Designee)
ChiefMedicalExaminer
TerriWhite,M.S.W.GwendolynDowning,LPC(Designee)LaurenGarder,M.A.,LPC(Alt.Designee)
Commissioner,DepartmentofMentalHealthandSubstanceAbuseServices
GaryCox[Current]TomBates,J.D.[Interim]MariaAlexander,M.H.R.,M.E.P.P.(Designee)BrandieCombs,MPH(Designee)
StateCommissionerofHealth
PamArcher,M.P.H.,DirectorBrandiWoods‐Littlejohn,M.C.J.(Designee/Chair)
Chief,InjuryPreventionServicesoftheStateDepartmentofHealth
RickyAdamsBethGreen(Designee/Chair)(sinceOctober2019)
Director,OklahomaStateBureauofInvestigation
MelissaBlanton,J.D.,A.A.G. OfficeoftheAttorneyGeneral,Chief,VictimServices
JustinBrown[Current]EdLake,M.S.W.[Past]JenniferPostlewait,M.S.W.(Designee)PatriciaValera,B.S.(Alt.Designee)MarissaEdstedt,(Alt.Designee)
Director,DepartmentofHumanServices
SteveBuckDonnaGlandon,J.D.(Designee)
ExecutiveDirector,OfficeofJuvenileAffairs
MikeBooth,Sheriff(Designee)ScottHawkins,Lieutenant(Alt.Designee) OklahomaSheriffsAssociation
W.DonSweger,Chief(Designee) OklahomaAssociationofChiefsofPolice
KarenMueller,J.D.(Designee) OklahomaBarAssociation
JeffSmith,DA,District16(Designee) DistrictAttorneysCouncil
JasonBeaman,D.O.,M.S.,M.P.H. (Designee) OklahomaOsteopathicAssociation
MartinaJelley,M.D.,M.P.H.(Designee)MonicaHenning,M.D.(Alt.Designee) OklahomaStateMedicalAssociation
JanetWilson,Ph.D.,RN(Designee) OklahomaNursesAssociation
Hon.MikeWarren,J.D.(Designee) OklahomaSupremeCourt
BrandonPasley,(Designee)OklahomaCoalitionAgainstDomesticViolenceandSexualAssault(Survivor)
TraceyLyall,M.S.W.(Designee)AngelaBeatty,B.S.W.(Alt.Designee)JayraCamarena(Alt.Designee)
OklahomaCoalitionAgainstDomesticViolenceandSexualAssault
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KeyFindingsfor2018
ATAGLANCE_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TheReviewBoardannuallyidentifies,reviews,andreportsondomesticviolence‐relatedhomicidesoccurringinOklahoma.Domesticviolencehomicidesaredividedintoseveralbroadcategories.Eachyear,thetwolargestcategoriesareintimatepartnerhomicides(IPH)andfamilyhomicidescommittedbyrelativeswhoarenon‐intimatepartners.Intimatepartnersincludecurrentorformerhusbands,boyfriends,wives,andgirlfriends.Familymembersinclude,butarenotlimitedto,parents,fosterparents,children,siblings,grandparents,grandchildren,aunts,uncles,andcousins.Otherdeathsincludedinthisreportareroommateskilledbyroommates,aswellasbystandersorGoodSamaritanskilledduringthehomicideevent.Inthisreport,thetermvictimreferstotheindividualkilledinadomesticviolencehomicide.Thetermperpetratorreferstotheindividualwhocommittedthehomicide.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
82DOMESTICVIOLENCEHOMICIDECASES
88HomicideVictims*
43Females(49%)
45Males(51%)
85HomicidePerpetrators
17Females(20%)68Males(80%)
31Oklahomacountieswithatleastonehomicide*Includesvictimsofintimatepartner,family,roommate,andtrianglehomicides.
2018DomesticViolenceHomicideinOklahoma
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KeyFindingsfor2018
ATAGLANCE_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TheReviewBoardidentified1,785victimswhodiedinOklahomabecauseofdomesticviolencebetween1998and2018.
In2018alone,Oklahomahad82separatedomesticviolencecases(sometimesreferredtoasevents)resultinginthedeathof105people;88wereidentifiedashomicidevictims,and17wereidentifiedashomicideperpetrators.Asinglecasecanresultinthedeathofmorethanonevictim,whileothercasesinvolvemorethanoneperpetrator.Thenumberofperpetratorswhodiedfromsuicideorasaresultoflawenforcement,bystander,orGoodSamaritaninterventionin2018almostdoubledfrom2017(Table1).
Table1:DomesticViolenceHomicidesinOklahomafrom2011to2018
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Domesticviolencecases 92 85 86 86 89 89 75 82
Domesticviolencehomicidevictims(intimatepartnerhomicide[IPH]andnon‐IPH)
96 88 90 93 94 95 82 88
IPHvictimsonly 46 40 43 39 36 37 37 44
ChildVictims<18 18 14 14 18 24 15 11 14
Domesticviolenceperpetrators 93 91 89 91 100 95 83 85
Domesticviolenceperpetratorswhodiedfromsuicideorlawenforcement/bystander/GoodSamaritanintervention
18 21 10 14 17 10 9 17
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KeyFindingsfor2018
BYCOUNTY_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In2018,31outof77(40%)Oklahomacountieshadatleastonedomesticviolence‐relatedhomicide;thehighestnumberofhomicidevictimswereconcentratedinOklahomaandTulsaCounties.(Table2).
Table2:DomesticViolenceRelatedDeathsin2018HOMICIDEVICTIMS COUNTY PERPETRATORSUICIDE
1 ADAIR 2 ATOKA 1 CADDO 1 CHEROKEE 2 CLEVELAND 2 COMANCHE 3 DELAWARE 2 GARFIELD 3 GRADY 11 HUGHES 2 KAY 13 LEFLORE 2 LINCOLN 1 MURRAY 1 MUSKOGEE 1 NOWATA 22 OKLAHOMA 44 OKMULGEE 2 OSAGE 21 PAWNEE 1 PAYNE 1 PITTSBURG 2 POTTAWATOMIE 3 ROGERS 11 SEMINOLE 11 STEPHENS 1 TEXAS 18 TULSA 61 WAGONER 1 WASHINGTON 1 WASHITA 1
88 TOTAL 17
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KeyFindingsfor2018
DEMOGRAPHICS1_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Thedemographicspresentedinthissectionofthereportincludeintimatepartnerhomicides(IPH)identifiedbytheReviewBoard,aswellasnon‐intimatepartnerhomicides(Non‐IPH),occurringincalendaryear2018.Non‐IPHcasesincludefamilymembers,bystanders,andGoodSamaritans(seethesectiononrelationshiptypeonpage9foramoredetaileddescriptionabouthowtheReviewBoardcategorizesthedifferentrelationshipsbetweendomesticviolence‐relatedhomicideperpetratorsandhomicidevictims).GenderOfthe88totaldomesticviolencehomicidevictims,43(49%)werefemaleand45(51%)weremale.Ofthe39adultfemalevictims(≥18yearsold),38(97%)werekilledbymaleperpetrators.Ofthe35adultmalevictims(≥18yearsold),23(66%)werekilledbymaleperpetrators,and12(34%)werekilledbyfemaleperpetrators.Theoverwhelmingmajorityofthe85perpetratorsweremale(80%).Ofthe17femaleperpetrators,9(60%)killedtheircurrentorformerintimatepartners(Table3).
Age
Ofthe88victims,themajority(33%)werebetweentheagesof21and40yearsold.Theaverageageofallvictimswas37.72yearsold.Theaverageageofadultvictims(≥18years)was43.67yearsold.Theyoungestvictimwas3monthsold.Theoldestvictimwas80yearsold.Ofthe14childvictims(<18years),9(64%)wereundertheageoffiveand7(50%)werelessthanayearold(Table3).
Perpetratorsbetweentheagesof21and40yearsold(52%)representedthelargestagegroup.Theaverageageofallperpetratorswas38.14yearsold.Theaverageageofadultperpetrators(≥18years)was39.18yearsold.Theyoungestperpetratorwas15yearsold.Theoldestperpetratorwas82yearsold.Four(5%)perpetratorswere<18yearsold(Table3).
Race/Ethnicity
Ofthe88victims,55(63%)wereCaucasian,12(14%)wereAfricanAmerican,4(5%)wereNativeAmerican,13(15%)wereHispanic/LatinoOrigin,3(3%)wereAsian,and1(1%)wasidentifiedas“Other”(Table3).
Ofthe85perpetrators,56(66%)wereCaucasian,12(14%)wereAfricanAmerican,4(5%)wereNativeAmerican,9(11%)wereHispanic/LatinoOrigin,3(3%)wereAsian,and1(1%)wasidentifiedas“Other”(Table3).
1 Forpurposesofthisreport,calculatedpercentageshavebeenroundedupordowntothewholepercent,whichmayresultincategorieswithlessthanormorethan100%iftotaled.
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KeyFindingsfor2018
DEMOGRAPHICS2_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2 Seefootnote1.
Table3.DomesticViolenceVictimandPerpetratorDemographicsfor2018
DomesticViolence
HomicideVictimsALL(Total=88)
%DomesticViolenceHomicide
PerpetratorsALL(Total=85)
%
Gender
Female 43 49% 17 20%
Male 45 51% 68 80%
Race/Ethnicity
Caucasian 55 63% 56 66%
AfricanAmerican 12 14% 12 14%
Hispanic/Latino 13 15% 9 11%
NativeAmerican 4 5% 4 5%
Asian 3 3% 3 4%
Other 1 1% 1 1%
Age
Under21 19 22% 12 14%
21to40 29 33% 44 52%
41to60 26 30% 22 26%
Over60 14 16% 7 8%
AverageAge[All] 37.72 38.14
AverageAge[<18] 6.27 17.77
AverageAge[≥18] 43.67 39.18
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KeyFindingsfor2018
RELATIONSHIPTYPE_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TheReviewBoardcollectsandcompilesdataaccordingtothetypeofrelationshipassociatedwiththehomicide.In2018,37(42%)ofthe88homicidevictimswerekilledbyfamilymembers,includingfathers,stepfathers,mothers,mother’sboyfriends,sons,stepsons,grandparents,grandsons,brothers,andotherrelatives.Atotalof44(50%)werekilledbyintimatepartners,includingcurrentorformerspousesandcurrentorformerdatingpartners.Victimskilledbycurrentorformerintimatepartnersincreasedby19%overthepreviousyear.Exactly6(7%)homicidevictimswerekilledincasesthatarecategorizedasatriangle.Suchhomicidesincludesituationsinwhichaformerspouse,girlfriend,orboyfriendkillsthenewspouse,girlfriend,orboyfriend,orviceversa.One(1%)victimwaskilledbyaroommate(Figure1).
Relationshiptyperemainedfairlyconsistentfrom1998to2018withfamilyhomicides(44%)andintimatepartnerhomicides(45%)almostequallyrepresented(Figure2).
Family,37 (42%)IntimatePartner,
44 (50%)
Roommate,1 (1%)Triangle,6 (7%)
Figure1.PerpetratorRelationshiptoHomicide Victimfor2018
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Family Bystander/GoodSamaratin IntimatePartner Roommate Triangle
Figure2.PerpetratorRelationshiptoHomicide Victimfrom1998to2018
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KeyFindingsfor2018
CAUSESOFDEATH_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TheOfficeoftheChiefMedicalExaminerofOklahomainvestigatessudden,violent,unexpected,andsuspiciousdeathsandconductsmedico‐legalinvestigationsrelatedtothedeathinvestigations.TheReviewBoardreportsondataobtainedfromtheMedicalExaminer’sOfficethatincludesadeterminationastotheindividual’scauseandmannerofdeath.
Consistentwithnationalresearch,firearmsarethemostcommonlyusedweaponsindomesticviolence‐relatedhomicides.In2018,firearmsweretheleadingcauseofdeath;morethanallothercausescombined.Additionalcausesofdeathincludedknife/cuttinginstruments,bluntforce,strangulation,andothers.Firearmswerethecauseofdeathofall17perpetratorswhocommittedsuicideordiedbylawenforcement,bystander,orGoodSamaritanintervention(Figure3).
Between1998and2018,victimcauseofdeathremainedconsistentwithfirearmscontinuallyservingasthemostprevalentcauseindomesticviolencehomicidecases(Figure4).Onaverage,firearmswerethecauseofdeathin52%ofthedomesticviolencehomicidesduringthistimeperiod.
2
5
16
13
5217
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Strangulation
Other
Cut/Pierce(Stab)
BluntForceTrauma(BFT)
Firearm
PerpetratorCauseofDeath VictimCauseofDeath
Figure 3:CausesofDeathfrom2018
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Figure4.VictimsCausesofofDeathfrom1998to2018
Firearm Blunt Force Trauma Cut/Pierce Strangulation All Other Causes of Death
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KeyFindingsfor2018
HOMICIDE‐SUICIDE_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Aneventisdefinedasahomicide‐suicide14whensomeonemurdersanindividualandthenkillshimselforherself,usuallywithin72hoursfollowingthehomicide.In2018,theReviewBoardidentified17homicide‐suicidecasesresultinginthedeathof19victims(79%female).Nochildrenwerekilledinhomicide‐suicideevents.Ofthe17homicide‐suicidecases,15(88%)wereclassifiedassinglehomicide-suicidecases,inwhichonehomicidevictimandonehomicideperpetratorwhocommittedsuicideorwaskilledasaresultoflawenforcementintervention.Twoofthe17(12%)homicide‐suicidecasesweremultiplehomicide-suicidecases,inwhichtheperpetratorkilledmorethanonevictimbeforecommittingsuicideorbeforebeingkilledbylawenforcementintervention(Figure5).
Nationalresearchfindsthathomicide‐suicidecasesmostofteninvolveintimatepartners;usuallyamankillinghiscurrentorformerintimatepartnerandthenhimself.15In2018,theReviewBoardfoundthat94%ofallhomicide‐suicidecaseswereperpetratedbyintimatepartnersandthatthemajority(88%)wereperpetratedbycurrentorformermalepartners.Historically,theReviewBoardrarelyidentifiesintimatepartnerhomicide‐suicidecasesinvolvingfemaleperpetrators.However,in2018twocasesinvolvedfemaleperpetrators.Inaddition,a17‐statenationalstudy(includingOklahoma),foundthat88%ofhomicide‐suicideincidentswereperformedwithagun.16SimilarlyinOklahoma,88%ofsuch2018incidentswerecommittedwithafirearm.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
14Homicide‐suicideandmurder‐suicideareoftenusedinterchangeablyinresearchliterature.15MarzukPM,TardiffK,andHirschCS.“TheEpidemiologyofMurder‐Suicide.”JAMA267,no.23(June17,1992):3179–83.doi:10.1001/jama.1992.03480230071031.16Logan,J.,Hill,H.A.,Black,M.L.,Crosby,A.E.,Karch,D.L.,Barnes,J.D.,&Lubell,K.M.(2008).Characteristicsofperpetratorsinhomicide‐followed‐by‐suicideincidents:NationalViolentDeathReportingSystem—17USStates,2003–2005.”AmericanJournalofEpidemiology168,no.9(November1,2008):1056–64.doi:10.1093/aje/kwn213.
SingleHomicide‐Suicide,15 (88%)
MultipleHomicide‐Suicide,2 (12%)
Figure5:Homicide‐SuicideCasesfrom2018
Single Homicide‐Suicide Multiple Homicide‐Suicide
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KeyFindingsfor2018
DOMESTICVIOLENCEHOMICIDEANDCHILDREN_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ReviewBoardFindings
TheReviewBoardfocusesonchildhomicidesanddoesnotreviewcasesofchildrenwhodieduetoneglect;theOklahomaChildDeathReviewBoardreviewschilddeathcasesresultingfromneglect.Childhomicidesinclude,butarenotlimitedto,deathsinwhichchildrenarekilledbyparents,step‐parents,fosterparents,grandparents,siblings,uncles,aunts,orcousins.Insomecases,perpetratorskillchildreninthecontextofintimatepartnerhomicide,suchaswhentheperpetratorkillsthechildreninadditiontokillingthepartnerwhowasaparent.TherewerenosuchcasesinOklahomain2018.
In2018,theReviewBoardidentified14children(<18yearsold)whowerekilledbyfamilymembers.Ofthe14children,71%weremalesand29%werefemales.Additionally,50%wereCaucasian,21%wereAfricanAmerican,14%wereNativeAmerican,and14%wereHispanic.Inreferencetoage,64%were≤5yearsold.TheDepartmentofHumanServices,ChildWelfare,hadpriorcontactwiththefamilyin50%ofthechildhomicidecasesoccurringin2018.In57%ofthecases,therewasatleastonepriorchildwelfarereferral.Also,44%ofthechildhomicideperpetratorshadchildwelfareinvolvementaschildrenthemselves.24Table4providesadditionalinformationrelatedtochildhomicidevictimsidentifiedinOklahomabetween2011and2018.
Table4:ChildVictimsofDomesticViolence‐RelatedHomicide(IntimatePartnerandNon‐IntimatePartnerHomicideCases)from2011to2018
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
NumberofChildHomicideVictims 18 14 14 18 24 15 11 14
NumberofVictims≤5yrsold 11 11 12 14 16 12 10 9
AgeofYoungestChild 3mo. 2mo. 5mo. <1day 2mo. <1mo. <1mo. 3mo.
AgeofOldestChild 16 16 14 17 15 17 6 17
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
22Jaffe,P.G.&Judois,M.(2006).ChildrenasVictimsandWitnessesofDomesticHomicide:LessonsLearnedfrom
DomesticViolenceDeathReviewCommittees.JuvenileandFamilyCourtJournal.Volume57.Issue3,pp13–28.23Jaffe,P.G.,Campbell,M.Olszowy,L.&Hamilton,L.H.A.(2014).Paternalfilicideinthecontextofdomesticviolence:
challengesinriskassessmentandriskmanagementforcommunityandjusticeprofessionals.ChildAbuseReview,23(2),
pp.142‐153.24OklahomaDepartmentofHumanServicesData.
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KeyFindingsfor2018
INTIMATEPARTNERHOMICIDES(IPH)_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TheReviewBoardcollectsdatarelatedtointimatepartnerhomicides(IPH).Intimatepartnersarecurrentorformerspousesandcurrentorformerdatingpartners,includingsamesexpartners.IntheUnitedStates,womenaremorelikelytobekilledbyanintimatepartnerthanbyanyothergroupofpeople.2InastudyconductedbytheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention,analyzingdatafrom18states(includingOklahoma)between2003and2014,foundthat55%of10,018femalehomicidevictimsinvolveddomesticviolence.Inthesamestudy,victimswerekilledbycurrentorformerintimatepartnersin93%ofthecases.3InOklahoma,44ofthe88(50%)domesticviolence‐relatedhomicidesin2018wereidentifiedasIPHcases.
GenderIn2018,consistentwithpreviousyears,womenweremorelikelythanmentobekilledbyanintimatepartnerthanbyanon‐intimatepartner.Ofthe44IPHvictims,34(77%)werefemaleand10(23%)weremale(Table5).Morethanthree‐quartersofIPHperpetratorsweremale(79%).Onaverage,between2011and2018,two‐thirdsofIPHvictimswerefemaleandone‐thirdweremale(Figure6).
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2,3PetroskyE,BlairJM,BetzCJ,FowlerKA,JackSP,LyonsBH.Racialandethnicdifferencesinhomicidesofadultwomenandtheroleofintimatepartnerviolence—UnitedStates,2003–2014.MMWRMorbMortalWklyRep2017;66:741–746.DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6628a1
18
13
17
10 10 11
14
10
28 27 26
29
26 26
23
34
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Figure6.IntimatePartnerHomicidesVictimsbyGenderFrom2011to2018
Male Female
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KeyFindingsfor2018
INTIMATEPARTNERHOMICIDES(IPH)_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
AgeTheaverageageofthe44intimatepartnerhomicide(IPH)victimswas43yearsold.TheyoungestIPHvictimwas19yearsold;theoldestwas80yearsold.TheaverageageofIPHperpetratorswas44yearsold.TheyoungestIPHperpetratorwas18yearsold;theoldestwas82yearsold(Table4).
Race/Ethnicity
Ofthe44IPHvictims,31(70%)wereCaucasian,5(11%)wereAfricanAmerican,4(9%)wereHispanic,2(5%)wereNativeAmerican,and2wereAsian(5%)(Table5).Ofthe44IPHperpetrators,29(66%)wereCaucasian,6(14%)wereAfricanAmerican,4(9%)wereHispanic,3(7%)wereNativeAmerican,and2(5%)wereAsian(Table5).
Table5:IntimatePartnerHomicideDemographicsfrom2018
IPHVictim IPHPerpetrator
Gender Female 34 9Male 10 35Race/Ethnicity Caucasian 31 29AfricanAmerican 5 6NativeAmerican 2 3Hispanic 4 4Asian 2 2Other 0 0Age Under21 1 321to40 17 1841to60 17 17Over60 9 6AverageAge[All] 43.52 44.23
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KeyFindingsfor2018
INTIMATEPARTNERHOMICIDES(IPH)_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CauseofDeath
Alignedwithnationalresearch,6Oklahomafindingsshowfirearmstobethemostcommonlyusedweaponsinintimatepartnerhomicides(IPH).In2018,56%ofIPHvictimsinOklahomawerekilledbyfirearms(Figure7);morethanhalfofallcausesofdeathcombined.OfUSfirearms,handgunsarethemostcommonlyusedweaponbymalestomurderfemalesinsinglevictim/offendermurders.7Inonestudy,femalesweremorelikelytobemurderedbytheirintimatepartnerswithfirearmsthanbyallothercausescombined.8Otherresearchanalyzingriskfactorsforfemicideinabusiverelationshipsfoundthatanabusedwomanisfivetimesmorelikelytobekilledbyherabusivepartnerwhenherpartnerownsafirearm.9Inaddition,thereappearstobealinkbetweennon-fatalintimatepartnerviolence,firearmownership,andaperpetrator’slikelihoodofusingtheguntothreatenthepartner.10Perpetratorsofintimatepartnerviolenceusegunsastoolsofintimidationandpsychologicalcontroloftheintimatepartner,mostoftenasmeanstothreatenandinstillfear.11__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________6Zeoli,A.M.,McCourt,A.,Buggs,S.,Frattaroli,S.,Lilley,D.&Webster,D.W.(2018).AnalysisoftheStrengthofLegalFirearmsRestrictionsforPerpetratorsofDomesticViolenceandTheirAssociationwithIntimatePartnerHomicides.AmericanJournalofEpidemiology2018Jul1;187(7):1449‐1455.doi:10.1093/aje/kwx362
7,8ViolencePolicyCenter(VPC).(2019).WhenMenMurderWomen:AnAnalysisof2017HomicideData.Retrievedfromhttp://vpc.org/studies/wmmw2019.pdf
9CampbellJ.C.,WebsterD.W.,Koziol‐McLainJ.,etal.(2003).Riskfactorsforfemicideinabusiverelationships:resultsfromamultisitecasecontrolstudy.AmericanJournalofPublicHealth.2003;93(7):1089‐1097.
10RothmanE.F.,HemenwayD.,MillerM.,AzraelD.(2005).Batterers'useofgunstothreatenintimatepartners.JAmMedWomens’Assoc2005;60:62–68
11Sorenson,S.B.(2017).GunsinIntimatePartnerViolence:ComparingIncidentsbyTypeofWeapon.JournalofWomen’sHealth,Vol.26,Number3,DOI:10.1089/wh.2016.5832
Firearm,24,56%
Cut/Pierce,10(23%)
BluntForceTrauma(BFT),4 (9%)
Strangulation,1 (3%) Other,4(9%)
Figure7:IPHbyCauseofDeath from2018
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KeyFindingsfor2018
INTIMATEPARTNERHOMICIDES(IPH)_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
RelationshipStatusOnehalfofIPHvictims(50%)werenevermarriedtotheIPHperpetrator(Table6).
Table6:RelationshipofIPHVictimtoPerpetratorfrom2018
Whenperpetratorwasmale,victimwas: NumberofCases %
Spouse 17 49%Ex‐Spouse 1 3%CurrentIntimatePartner(notmarried) 13 37%FormerIntimatePartner(notmarried) 4 11%Total 35
Whenperpetratorwasfemale,victimwas: NumberofCases %
Spouse 3 33%Ex‐Spouse 1 11%CurrentIntimatePartner(notmarried) 3 33%FormerIntimatePartner(notmarried) 2 22%Total 9
LivingArrangements
TheReviewBoardtracksinformationrelatedtothelivingarrangementsbetweentheIPHperpetratorandvictimatthetimeofthehomicide.Ofthe341reviewedIPHcasesfrom1998to2010,thevictimandperpetratorwerecohabitingin55%ofthecases.In2018,theknowndataindicatesthat(43%)ofIPHvictimswerelivingwiththepartneratthetimeofthehomicide.
Separation
Outofthe44IPHvictims,9(20%)werereportedtobeseparatedfromtheIPHperpetratoratthetimeofthehomicideandanadditional4(9%)werereportedtobeintheprocessofseparationjustpriortothehomicide.SincetheReviewBoardhasonlylimitedinformationregardingthenumberofIPHvictimswhomayhavebeentryingtoleaveorwereintheprocessofleavingatthetimeofthehomicidetheactualnumbersmaybehigher.
PriorPhysicalViolence
Ahistoryofpriorphysicalviolenceintherelationshipisdifficulttoascertain.TheReviewBoardreliesonsourcesofinformationsuchaslawenforcementreports,protectiveorderpetitions,prosecutorialrecords,hospitalrecords,andinformationfromfamilyandfriends.However,sincemanyoftheIPHcasesfrom2018arenotyetclosedinthecriminaljusticesystem,prosecutorial
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KeyFindingsfor2018
INTIMATEPARTNERHOMICIDE(IPH)_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
recordsarenotyetavailableformanycasesatthetimeofthisreport.Inaddition,themajorityofabuseinintimatepartnerrelationshipsisnotreportedtoauthoritiesandvictimsmaynotreporttheirabusetoanyonepriortotheirdeaths.Despitetheselimitations,ananalysisof276reviewedintimatepartnerhomicidecasesbetween1998and2015,foundthat62%ofIPHvictimsexperiencedphysicalviolencebythehomicideperpetratorspriortothehomicides.In2018,availablerecordsindicatethat17(39%)ofthe44IPHvictimsexperiencedphysicalviolencebytheIPHperpetratorspriortothehomicides.
CriminalCharges/ConvictionsrelatedtotheHomicide(IPH)Chargeswerefiledin24(89%)ofthe27IPHcasesinwhichtheperpetratorslived.Theremaining17casesinvolvedthedeathoftheperpetrators.Atthetimeofthisreport,7outof24caseshaveresultedinconvictions,oneacquittal,andoneperpetratordiedafterchargeswerefiled.Theremainingcasesarependinginthecourtsystem(Table7).
Table7:CriminalChargesRelatedtoHomicidesfrom2018
NumberofCases %
1stDegreeMurder 20 45%
2ndDegreeMurder 1 2%
1stDegreeManslaughter 1 2%
2ndDegreeManslaughter 2 5%
NoChargesFiled(PerpetratorLived) 3 7%
NoChargesFiled(PerpetratorDiedatTimeofIncident) 17 39%
Total 44
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DomesticViolenceHomicidesbyCountyfrom1998to2018Between1998and2018,1,785victimslosttheirlivestodomesticviolenceinOklahoma;ofthe1,785victims,786(44%)werekilledbyintimatepartners(Table8).
Table8.DomesticViolenceHomicideVictimsByCountyfrom1998to2018*
County DVHomicideIPH
VictimsDV/SAProgram
County DVHomicideIPH
VictimsDV/SAProgram
Adair 15 5 B;S Leflore 41 17 V;BAlfalfa 0 0 Lincoln 15 6 Atoka 9 3 B Logan 13 6 BBeaver 5 1 Love 9 3 Beckham 8 1 B;S Major 1 0 Blaine 3 2 Marshall 6 2 BBryan 23 7 V;B;T Mayes 22 10 Caddo 19 10 B;T McClain 12 7 Canadian 21 10 S;B;T McCurtain 27 13 V;BCarter 33 12 V;B McIntosh 11 5 SCherokee 21 12 V;B;T Murray 4 3 BChoctaw 8 2 T Muskogee 32 22 V;BCimarron 0 0 Noble 3 1 TCleveland 46 22 V;B Nowata 3 2 Coal 5 4 Okfuskee 9 5 BComanche 70 34 V;B;T Oklahoma 405 195 V;B;FCotton 6 4 Okmulgee 24 11 V;B;TCraig 8 5 S Osage 19 13 TCreek 21 10 B Ottawa 14 5 V;B;TCuster 11 6 Pawnee 10 3 TDelaware 29 13 S;B;T Payne 20 9 V;B;TDewey 2 2 S Pittsburg 22 7 V;BEllis 1 1 S Pontotoc 23 13 V;B;TGarfield 18 9 V;B Pottawatomie 34 14 V;B;T;FGarvin 20 4 B Pushmataha 3 1 Grady 23 10 V;B RogerMills 1 1 Grant 1 0 Rogers 23 8 V;BGreer 2 2 Seminole 20 9 V;B;THarmon 1 1 Sequoyah 19 8 Harper 1 1 S Stephens 20 7 V;BHaskell 9 5 S;B Texas 7 2 SHughes 6 0 B Tillman 6 4 Jackson 5 3 V;B Tulsa 366 161 V;B;FJefferson 0 0 Wagoner 23 11 SJohnston 7 2 S;B Washington 23 12 Kay 16 8 V;T Washita 6 4 Kingfisher 2 2 Woods 3 0 SKiowa 3 4 Woodward 4 2 V;BLatimer 4 2 Totals 1,785 786
*“V”AttorneyGeneralCertifiedVictimsProgramand“S”SatelliteAttorneyGeneralCertifiedVictimsProgram;“B”BatterersInterventionProgram;“T”TribalProgram;and“F”FamilyJusticeCenter
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DomesticViolenceHomicidesbyDistrictAttorneyDistrictfrom1998to2018
Table9.DomesticViolenceHomicideRateper100,000populationbyDistrictAttorneyDistrictfrom1998to2018
DADistrict
County NumberofDVHomicideVictims
Rateper100,000
District4 Blaine,Canadian,Garfield,Grant,andKingfisher 45 1.07
District26 Alfalfa,Dewey,Major,Woods,andWoodward 12 1.22
District21 Cleveland,Garvin,andMcClain 78 1.22
District9 LoganandPayne 33 1.36
District3 Greer,Harmon,Jackson,Kiowa,andTillman 17 1.51District8 KayandNoble 19 1.56District1 Beaver,Cimarron,Harper,andTexas 11 1.63District24 CreekandOkfuskee 30 1.76District12 Craig,Mayes,andRogers 53 1.84District2 Beckham,Custer,Ellis,RogerMills,andWashita 27 1.90District11 NowataandWashington 26 2.03District27 Adair,Cherokee,Sequoyah,andWagoner 78 2.09District15 Muskogee 32 2.18District10 OsageandPawnee 29 2.19District6 Caddo,Grady,Jefferson,andStephens 62 2.26District23 LincolnandPottawatomie 49 2.28District18 HaskellandPittsburg 31 2.59District7 Oklahoma 405 2.70District25 OkmulgeeandMcIntosh 35 2.81District13 DelawareandOttawa 43 2.83District5 ComancheandCotton 76 2.88District19 Atoka,Bryan,andCoal 37 2.90District14 Tulsa 366 2.92District20 Carter,Johnston,Love,Marshall,andMurray 59 2.95District17 Choctaw,McCurtain,andPushmataha 38 3.02District22 Hughes,Pontotoc,andSeminole 49 3.10District16 LatimerandLeflore 45 3.57
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RECOMMENDATIONS
2019Recommendations
WithitscontinuousgoalofreducingdomesticviolencehomicidesinOklahoma,theReviewBoardproposesthreerecommendationsforthefollowingtargetsystemstoimproveoveralldomesticviolenceresponseandincreasepreventionefforts.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________RecommendationOne:TargetSystems:LawEnforcement,Prosecution,Municipalities,Courts,andLegislators
AllmisdemeanorcrimesofdomesticabuseinviolationofstatelawshouldbereferredtotheDistrictAttorneywheretheycanbeprosecutedintheDistrictCourtandnotprocessedwithinthelocalmunicipality.
__________________________________________________________________________________________RecommendationTwo:TargetSystems:LawEnforcement,Prosecution,Courts,VictimServiceProviders,Legislature,Funders,andCollaborativeMultidisciplinaryModelSystems
Agenciesandorganizationsrespondingtodomesticviolencecrimesshouldworkcollaborativelyacrossjurisdictionalanddisciplinarylinestoutilizeresourcesinamannerwhichbestenhancestheprosecutionofoffenders,therebyincreasingoffenderaccountabilitywhilelesseningtheburdenplaceduponvictimstoparticipateinthejusticesystemprocess.
__________________________________________________________________________________________RecommendationThree:TargetSystems:DepartmentofCorrections‐ProbationandParole,DistrictAttorneySupervision,andPrivateSupervisoryAgencies
Allindividualsandagenciesresponsibleforprovidingsupervisionofdomesticabuseoffenderswhileservingprobationaryorparoletermsshouldhavecontinuedspecializedtrainingonthedynamicsofdomesticviolenceanduseenhancedstrategiestoeffectivelymonitordomesticviolenceperpetrators.
Furtherexplanationofeachrecommendationandresourcesareincludedonthepagestofollow.
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RecommendationOne:TargetSystems:LawEnforcement,Prosecution,Municipalities,Courts,andLegislators
AllmisdemeanorcrimesofdomesticabuseinviolationofstatelawshouldbereferredtotheDistrictAttorneywheretheycanbeprosecutedintheDistrictCourtandnotprocessedwithinthelocalmunicipality.
Rationale:
TheconsistentlyhighratesofdomesticviolencecrimeinOklahomaandtheongoingneedtoensureanadequateresponsebythecriminaljusticesystemtowardthegoalofpreventingtheescalationofviolencetowardintimatepartnersresultinginlethaluseofforce,requiresacalculated,consistentanddirectapproach.RecognizingthefatalimpactofDrivingWhileUndertheInfluenceofAlcohol(DUI)repeatoffenses,theOklahomalegislatureunderTitle47O.S.§11‐902(C)(7),mandatedthat“inanycaseinwhichadefendantischargedwithinanymunicipalitywithamunicipalcourtotherthanacourtofrecord,thechargeshallbepresentedtothecounty’sDistrictAttorneyandfiledwiththedistrictcourtofthecountywithinwhichthemunicipalityislocated.”
Thedynamicsofdomesticviolenceincluderepeatbehaviorovertime,oftenwithescalatingactsofviolence.
SimilartotherequirementsforthosechargedwiththecrimeofDUI,ataminimum,domesticabusecrimesshouldbechargedwherethereisanofficialrecordoftheoffense.Thismaybeusedtoenhancefuturerepeatcrimes,andthecrimesshouldbehandledinaconsistent,seriousmanneracrossthestateattheDistrictCourtlevel.Municipalitiesvaryintheirabilitytoimposepenaltiesbasedontheirsetordinances.Allarelimitedtochargingmisdemeanorcrimes,whichcarryforacourtofrecordamaximumof6monthsimprisonmentandafineofupto$2,500,andforacourtnotofrecordamaximumof60daysimprisonmentandafineofupto$750(SeeTitle11O.S.§14-111).Repeatoffensesthencarrythesamepunishmentrangenomatterhowmanypriorchargesorconvictionsexist.
AmisdemeanorlevelchargeofdomesticabuseperstatestatuteunderTitle21O.S.644(C)carriesapunishmentrangeattheDistrictCourtlevelofupto1yearimprisonmentandafineofupto$5,000andasubsequentoffensemaybechargedasafelonycarryingapunishmentrangeofupto4yearsimprisonmentandafineofupto$5,000.Alternativemisdemeanorandfelonychargesareavailabletoprosecutorsatthestateleveldependingonadditionalelementspresent.Furthermore,convictionsofdomesticabuseatthestatelevelrequiretheattendanceofa52‐weekbatterer
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2019Recommendations
interventionprogramcertifiedbytheOfficeoftheAttorneyGeneralasaconditionofaprobationaryterm,whichmaybesupervisedandviolationsenforcedbytheDistrictCourtjudge.
Implementation:
ThisrecommendationcanbeaccomplishedthroughcollaborativeeffortsamongmunicipallawenforcementagenciesandcourtswithDistrictAttorneysandDistrictCourtstosetforthproceduresthatacknowledgetheseriousnatureofdomesticabusecrimes.State,local,andfederalresourcesarebeingutilizedinlocationsacrossthestatetoensureprosecutorsandcourtsareequippedtorespondinthemostappropriatewayswhilehandlingdomesticviolenceprosecution,issuingmeaningfulimprisonmentand/orprobationaryterms,andmonitoringoffendersaftersentencingthroughcompliancereviewdockets.TheDistrictCourtsinOklahomaarebetterequippedthanmunicipalcourtstoensuremoreconsistencyinsentencing,theavailabilityofgreaterpenaltiesforgreatercrimes,andmoreaccountabilityforrepeatoffenders.Tofurtherstatewideconsistency,theOklahomalegislatureshouldconsiderstatutoryamendmentsrequiringthepresentmentofmisdemeanordomesticabusecrimesbyamunicipalitytotheDistrictCourt.
Resources:
NationalDomesticViolenceProsecutionBestPracticesGuide,NationalDistrictAttorneysAssociation:https://ndaa.org/wp‐content/uploads/NDAA‐DV‐White‐Paper‐FINAL‐revised‐July‐17‐2017‐1.pdfNationalJudicialInstituteonDomesticViolence:https://www.njidv.org/CenterforCourtInnovation:https://www.courtinnovation.org/programs/domestic‐violence‐court
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2019RecommendationsRecommendationTwo:TargetSystems:LawEnforcement,Prosecution,Courts,VictimServiceProviders,Legislature,Funders,andCollaborativeMultidisciplinaryModelSystems
Agenciesandorganizationsrespondingtodomesticviolencecrimesshouldworkcollaborativelyacrossjurisdictionalanddisciplinarylinestoutilizeresourcesinamannerwhichbestenhancestheprosecutionofoffenders,therebyincreasingoffenderaccountabilitywhilelesseningtheburdenplaceduponvictimstoparticipateinthejusticesystemprocess.
Rationale:
Local,state,federal,andtriballawsdifferjustasdisciplinesservingvictimsdifferinthevarioussystems.Thesedifferencescreategapsinresponsesandmayresultinundueburdensplaceduponvictimsofdomesticabusebeyondviolenceandcoercionbytheperpetrators.Domesticviolenceperpetratorsusethosesystemshortcomingstofurtherintimidateandharassvictims,oftencausingreluctancetoparticipateintheprosecutionofacaseandmoreopportunityforperpetratorstoavoidpenalties.
However,creativepartnershipsacrossjurisdictionsanddisciplinescanfillthosegapsandenhanceaccountabilityforperpetrators,resultinginmoresafetyforvictimsandtheirfamilies.Suchcollaborationsincludestateandfederalpartnershipslike“Operation922”,explainedfurtherintheSpotlightsectionofthereport(page28),wherebyfederalprosecutionoffirearmsviolationshascreatedamoretargetedsystemresponsetodomesticviolenceoffenderswherestatelawislimitedandwhereinvictimsarelesslikelytobeaskedtoparticipatesinceevidenceofthecrimeisnotreliantuponvictimtestimony.Suchpartnershipsarecreatedthroughjointeffortsbylocalandfederallawenforcementandstateandfederalprosecutors,andarestrengthenedbymultidisciplinaryresponsemodelssuchasFamilyJusticeCentersandCoordinatedCommunityResponseTeams.
Anadditionalexampleofacross‐disciplinarycollaborativeresponseistheuseofexpertwitnessesintheprosecutionofdomesticabusecrimesandincivilcaseswheredomesticabuseisalleged.Expertsmayoffercourttestimonyincluding,butnotlimitedto,theeffectsofdomesticabuseonthebeliefs,behavior,andperceptionofthepersonbeingabused(Title22O.S.§40.7).Explainingthedynamicsofdomesticviolenceanditseffectsonvictimsiscrucialtotheprovisionofcontextinaproceeding,eithercriminalorcivil,wherevictimbehaviormayseemcounterintuitivetoajudgeorjury.Successful“Evidence‐BasedProsecution”,relyingonevidenceotherthanvictimtestimonytoprovetheelementsofthecrime,isoftenaccomplishedwiththeuseofexperttestimonytoexplainvictimbehavior,suchasreluctancetoreport,recantingreportsofabuse,choosingnottotestifyor
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reunitingwithanabuser,amongothers.Theuseofexpertsmaybeaccomplishedthroughcoordinationacrossdisciplines.
Implementation:
Formalizedworkacrossdisciplinesandjurisdictionsiskeytotheimplementationofongoingmeaningfuleffortstoclosegapsandimprovethesystemresponse.CoordinatedCommunityResponseTeamsandFamilyJusticeCentersexistinmostpartsofOklahoma,andtheircontinuedeffortsshouldincludeevaluationofagency,organizational,andjurisdictionalrolestoidentifystrengthsandweaknesses,aswellasavailableresources,includingstateandfederalfundsnotyetutilizedtoimprovetheoverallsystemresponsetodomesticviolence.
Prosecutorsshouldregularlyconnectwithvictimadvocatesandcounselorstoconsultonthedynamicsofacaseortorequestexperttestimonyduringahearingortrial.Advocates,counselors,lawenforcementofficers,andotherswithexperienceandeducationspecifictodomesticabusedynamicsshouldbeavailabletoprovideeducationtoprosecutorsandtotestifyincourt.
Resources:
TheNationalDomesticViolenceandFirearmsResourceCenter:https://www.bwjp.org/our‐work/projects/firearms‐project.htmlTheUseofExpertTestimonyinIntimatePartnerHomicide,apublicationofVAWnet:TheNationalOnlineResourceCenteronViolenceAgainstWomen:https://vawnet.org/material/use‐expert‐testimony‐intimate‐partner‐violenceExcerptfromPraxisInternational’sBlueprintforSafetyontheUseofExpertWitnessesinDomesticViolenceCases:http://praxisinternational.org/wp‐content/uploads/2016/02/BPSupp5CTrainingMemo‐UseofExpertWitnessesinDomesticViolenceCases.pdfOklahomaDistrictAttorneysCouncil–CoordinatedCommunityResponseTeamResources:https://www.ok.gov/dac/Training/Coordinated_Community_Response_Teams/index.htmlOklahomaFamilyJusticeCenters:
TulsaFamilySafetyCenter:https://fsctulsa.org/ OneSafePlace(FamilyJusticeCenter,Shawnee):http://fjc.osgov.us/ Palomar(OklahomaCity’sFamilyJusticeCenter):https://palomarokc.org/ ComingSoon…CanadianCountyFamilyJusticeCenter
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2019Recommendations
RecommendationThree:TargetSystems:DepartmentofCorrections‐ProbationandParole,DistrictAttorneySupervision,andPrivateSupervisoryAgenciesAllindividualsandagenciesresponsibleforprovidingsupervisionofdomesticabuseoffenderswhileservingprobationaryorparoletermsshouldhavecontinuedspecializedtrainingonthedynamicsofdomesticviolenceanduseenhancedstrategiestoeffectivelymonitordomesticviolenceperpetrators.
Rationale:
TheReviewBoardovertheyears(2002,2007,2008,2009,2010,and2012)hasmademanyrecommendationstargetingtheworkofprofessionalswithintheprobationandparoleportionofthecriminaljusticesystem.Thoserecommendationshaveincludedsuggestionsforscreeningofprobationersforlethalityindicatorsatintakeandpriortoreleasetothecommunity;trainingonthedynamicsofdomesticabuseandusageofdangerassessmenttools;documentationandreportingofincidentsofdomesticviolence;notificationofprotectiveorderproceedingsinvolvingprobationers;and,makingappropriatevictimreferralsforserviceswithinthecommunity.Themajorityofdomesticviolenceoffendersreceiveprobationarytermsasapartoftheircourtorderedsentences.TheseoffendersareoftenassignedtobesupervisedbytheDepartmentofCorrectionsProbationandParoleofficers,DistrictAttorneySupervision,orprivatesupervisoryagencies.Recognizingtheriskandlethalityfactorsinvolved,ithasbecomestandardizedthatlawenforcementofficersperformalethalityassessmentuponfirstinvestigatingacrimeofdomesticabuse.However,assessingdangerousnessandlethalityshouldalsobecomeanongoingstandardizedpracticewhenoffendersareservingprobationaryorparoleterms.
TheReviewBoardhasrecognizedincidentsduringcasereviewsindicatingincreasedsupervisionofoffendersorreportingofprobationaryviolationsmayhaveresultedinanopportunitytointervenepriortothehomicides.Probationofficersshouldmaintaincontactwithvictimsandmakeservicereferralsasnecessaryforvictimsafety,performevidence‐basedlethalityandriskassessmentsofoffenders,routinelycheckfornewarrestsorprotectiveorderfilings,requestupdatesonthestatusofbattererinterventionprogramattendance,andreportviolationstotheproperauthorities.
Implementation:
TheDepartmentofCorrectionsProbationandParoleDivision,DistrictAttorneys,andprivateprobationaryagenciesshouldworktogethertodeveloptraininganduniformprotocolsforofficerssupervisingdomesticviolenceoffenders.Thoseentitiesshouldalsocollaboratewithmembersof
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localCoordinatedCommunityResponseTeamsandFamilyJusticeCenterswhomaybeabletoprovidetrainingandresources,aswellassharehelpfulinformationtomaintainongoingstatusupdatesonoffenders.Probationofficersandbattererinterventionprogramfacilitatorsshouldregularlycommunicateaboutoffendersorderedtocompletetheprogramwhoarealsosupervisedduringaprobationaryterm.Towardthegoalofmeaningfuloffenderaccountability,violationsofprobationarytermsshouldbedocumentedandreportedtoDistrictAttorneysforpossiblecourtsanctions.
Resources:
BatteredWomen’sJusticeProject:https://www.bwjp.org/our‐work/projects/probation‐project.html
CommunityCorrectionsResponsetoDomesticViolence:GuidelinesforPractice,apublicationoftheAmericanProbationandParoleAssociation:https://www.appa‐net.org/eweb/docs/APPA/pubs/CCRDV.pdf
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UpdateOnSelectedPriorRecommendations
MAKINGADIFFERENCEINOKLAHOMA_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Since2002,theReviewBoardhassubmittedrecommendationsbasedonintensivecasereviewandanalysisoftrends.However,theReviewBoard’sroleofdevelopinganddisseminatingrecommendationsisonlythefirststeptoenactingvalidreform.Oncerecommendationsaremade,theReviewBoardisoptimisticsystemswillusetheinformationtoimplementpractice,protocol,andpolicychangesintheircommunities.WeexpectthelegislaturetoconsidertheserecommendationstoguideanylegislationrelatedtodomesticviolenceinOklahoma.TheReviewBoardworkstofacilitateimplementationoftherecommendations.Overtheyears,manyrecommendationshavebeenfullyorpartiallyimplementedinOklahoma,whileothershaveyettobeimplemented.ThefollowingsectionprovidesanupdaterelatedtorecommendationsmadebytheReviewBoardinrecentyears.
1. ALLSystemsPRIORRECOMMENDATION
[2018] LethalityRiskTrainingforAllSystems
[2016] EnhanceconsistentandsafeimplementationoftheLethalityAssessmentProgram(LAP)inOklahoma
UPDATE
TheLethalityAssessmentProgram(LAP)TaskForce,establishedinSeptember2017,includesmemberrepresentationfromlawenforcement,includingCLEET,domesticviolenceserviceprovideragencies,tribalagencies,aLAPresearcherfromtheUniversityofOklahoma,HealthSciencesCenter,theDistrictAttorneysCouncil,andtheOfficeoftheAttorneyGeneral.ThegoalsofthetaskforcearetocollectdatatoevaluatetheLAPoutcomes,enhanceuniformityofpractices,andprovidetrainingandtechnicalassistancetolawenforcementanddomesticviolenceserviceprovideragencies.
In2019,theDistrictAttorneysCouncil,inconjunctionwithCLEET,hostednumeroustrainingsincommunitiesacrossthestateontheLAP.Also,duringregionalmultidisciplinarytrainingsfocusedonvictimsrights,membersoftheTaskForcepresentedontheLAP.TheTaskForcehasconductedsurveysofvictimserviceagencies,lawenforcementagencies,andotherstoevaluatethestatewideimplementationoftheLAPandtoidentifyadditionaltrainingandtechnicalassistanceneeds.Moreworkisalwaysneeded;however,theworkoftheTaskForcehascreatedmeaningfulpartnershipsbetweenlawenforcementandvictimserviceagenciesinallpartsofthestate,resultinginbettersupportforvictimsofdomesticabuse.FormoreinformationonLAPtrainingandtechnicalassistanceforyouragency,pleasecontacttheVictimServicesUnitoftheAttorneyGeneral’sOfficeortheDistrictAttorneysCouncilTrainingDivision.
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UpdateonSelectedPriorRecommendations
MAKINGADIFFERENCEINOKLAHOMA_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Judiciary
Thejudiciaryiscriticaltothesafetyandwell‐beingoffamiliesinOklahoma.Decisionsmadebythejuvenile,family,protectiveorder,andcriminalcourtshavethepotentialtoeitherenhanceordiminishsafetyforvictimsofdomesticviolenceandtheirchildren.RecognizingthevitalroleofthejudiciaryincreatingsafetyforOklahomafamilies,theReviewBoardhasmademultiplerecommendationsforjudgesspanningseveralyears.However,theneedforjudicialtrainingandthedevelopmentofjudicialresourcescontinuestobeanoverarchingpriorityfortheReviewBoard.TheReviewBoardhastheopportunitytoreviewcourtrecordsrelatedtoeachcase,includingthevictimandperpetratorpriorcriminal,juvenile,andfamilycourthistory,andprotectiveorderhistory.Throughthisprocess,theReviewBoardrecognizesthecontinuedurgentneedforjudicialtrainingasevidencedemonstratingchangesinjudicialpracticetoenhancesafetyforfamilies.PRIORRECOMMENDATIONS
Amongthenumerousrecommendationsdirectedtowardthejudiciarysince1998,theReviewBoardhasprioritizedthedevelopmentofadomesticviolencebenchbooktoguideOklahomajudgesincivil,juvenile,andcriminalcourtproceedingsinvolvingdomesticviolence.
[2014] DevelopajudicialbenchbooktoprovideguidancetoOklahomajudgesindomesticviolencecases.
[2008and2009] Makejudgesawareofandtrainthemonhowtoutilizebenchcardsinprotectiveordercases.
[2007] Utilizeabenchcardforjudgeshandlingprotectiveorderstoassistthecourtinrecognizingredflagsandpotentialdanger.
[2005] Developbenchcardsforjudgeshandlingprotectiveorderstoassistjudgesinrecognizingredflagsanddangerpotentialincases.
UPDATE
TheOklahomaCountyBarAssociationLawyersAgainstDomesticAbuseCommittee(LADC)iscontinuallyworkingtodevelopacomprehensivedomesticviolencebenchbookforOklahomaJudges.Thisresourceisestimatedtobepublishedwithinthenextyearandwillbedisseminatedstatewidetoalljudges.
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Spotlight
HomicidePreventionInitiativesinOklahoma“Operation922”
TheOklahomaCountyDistrictAttorney’sOfficereviewsabout3,000domesticviolencecasesperyearandprosecutesapproximately1,500cases,includingbothfelonyandmisdemeanoroffenses.Thisisadauntingcaseloadforwhichlimitedpersonnelandresourcesexistatthestateandlocallevels.InNovember2017,LoriHines,DeputyCriminalChief,UnitedStatesAttorney’sOffice(USAO)fortheWesternDistrictofOklahoma,realizedthatalthoughmanyofthesedefendantschargedinstatecourtwereviolent,multiplepriorcrimestheyhadcommittedhadnotresultedinmeaningfulsanctions.Thiswasduetoamyriadofchallengescommontodomesticviolencecasesincludingevidentiaryissues,victimswhomaybereluctanttoprosecuteduetoeconomicissues(suchasthelossofa“breadwinner”),victimdesiretokeepafamilyintact,andotherfactorssuchasheavycaseloadsfortheprosecutorsandlimitedstatelaws.Yet,domesticviolencecasesrepresentedasignificantportionofalltheviolentcrimesoccurringinthedistrictwithnumerousexamplesofchronicrepeatoffendersandrepeatvictims.
FollowingareviewoftheolderandmoredifficultcasespendingattheDistrictAttorney’sOffice,withthesupportofthenActingUSAttorneyTroester,theleadershipteamwithintheUSAObegantoreconsidertheirroleinaddressingdomesticviolenceasapriorityfortheViolentCrimesDivision.Thereviewofthedomesticviolence‐relatedincidentsrevealedthatmanyinvolvedviolationsoffederalfirearmslaws.Examplesincludedfelonsinpossessionofafirearm,violationsofaVictimProtectionOrder,andincidentsinvolvingfirearmsandillegaldrugs.Thecommitmenttoconsiderfederalprosecutionindomesticviolence‐relatedfirearmsincidentswasfurthersupportedbythecollaborativescreeningofcasesinvestigatedbytheOklahomaCityPoliceDepartment(OCPD),theDistrictAttorney’sOffice,andtheBureauofAlcohol,Tobacco,FirearmsandExplosives.Theco‐locationoftheOCPDDomesticViolenceUnitinthePalomarFamilyJusticeCenterassistedinprioritizinghigh‐riskoffendersforfederalprosecution.
WithpriorProjectSafeNeighborhoods(PSN)grantfundedprograms,theUSAOfortheWesternDistrictofOklahomafollowedthatpredominantstrategybyfocusingonaspecific,limitedgeographicareatotargetviolentcrime.Asisoftenthecasewithsuchstrategies,thisresultedintargetinghigh‐crimeareaswhichweregenerallyminoritycommunitieswithlowincome,highunemployment,andlittleeducation.However,domesticviolenceoccursinallneighborhoodsandisnotconfinedtoanygeographic,economic,ethnic,educational,orothersimilarparameter.
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Consequently,inresponsetotheidentifiedneedtointervene,theWesternDistrictofOklahoma’scurrentPSNinitiativetargetsdomesticviolencederivedcases,includingviolationsof18U.S.C.§922(g)(8)and(g)(9).Theinitiativeistitled“Operation922”.Whenasubjectisinpossessionofafirearm1)whilesubjecttoaVictimProtectiveOrder,2)afterapriormisdemeanorconvictionfordomesticassaultandbattery,or3)afterapriorfelonyconviction,theUSAOcanprosecutethatfirearmsoffense.Asnotedabove,theUSAOisactivelyinvolvedinweeklycasescreeningsandcanworkwithlocalpartnerstoprioritizecasesandmakedeterminationswhetherfederalorstateprosecutionmakesthemostsense.Thisstrategyofprosecutingoffenderswithacriminalhistoryofdomesticviolence(includingmisdemeanorconvictions),andthosesubjecttoaVictimProtectiveOrder,hasproventobesuccessfulformanyreasons.First,thisstrategyfillsavoidinstatelaw.Unlikeunderfederallaw,Oklahomadoesnothavealawthatprohibitsapersonsubjecttoaprotectiveorder,orwhohasapriorconvictionformisdemeanordomesticassaultandbattery,frompossessingafirearm.Thefederallawscanresultinthearrest,prosecution,andincarcerationofasubjectforuptotenyears.TheWesternDistrictofOklahoma’sstrategytochargetheviolentoffenderswhopossessfirearmsservesasaprosecutionforcemultiplierbychargingfelonyfirearmscaseswherethatoptionisnotavailabletostateprosecutors.
Second,thisstrategyprotectsvictims.Thisoccursinseveralways.Federalprosecutionbringsmeaningfulpretrialdetentionormonitoring.Italsobringsspeedytrials,promptcaseresolutions,andcertainsentences.Thisprovidesopportunitiesforlawenforcementtobreakthecycleofviolence,extracthigh‐riskoffendersfromthescenes,andprovide“breathingroom”forvictims.TheenforcementfocusiscoupledwithcomprehensiveservicesandsupportprovidedbyagenciesembeddedwithinthePalomarFamilyJusticeCenter.TheWesternDistrictofOklahoma’sprosecutionofthesecasesasfederalfirearmsviolationsalsoprotectsthevictimsfromtheuncomfortablenecessitytotestifyaboutthespecificabusebythedefendantbecausethefederalprosecutionfocusesontheillegalpossessionofthefirearm.Finally,thisstrategyimprovesofficersafety.Thisisbasedonexperiencedemonstratingthatdomesticviolencecallsareknowntobesomeofthemostvolatilesituationsforrespondingofficers.Closingthegapsandapproachingdomesticviolenceinaunifiedmannerwillsavelivesofvictimsandofficersalike,aswellastimeandfunds.
ForfurtherinformationaboutOperation922,pleasecontactDeputyCriminalChiefLoriHinesat
(405)553‐8853.
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AppendixAOklahomaDomesticViolenceFatalityReviewBoard
OklahomaDomesticViolenceFatalityReviewBoardLegislationTheOklahomaDomesticViolenceFatalityReviewBoard(“ReviewBoard”)isastatutorybody,enabledbytheOklahomalegislatureunder22O.S.§§1601‐1603.LegislationcreatingtheReviewBoardtookeffectin2001.
MissionStatementThemissionoftheReviewBoardistoreducethenumberofdomesticviolence‐relateddeathsinOklahoma.TheReviewBoardwillperformmulti‐disciplinaryreviewofstatisticaldataobtainedfromsourceswithinthejurisdictionand/orhavingdirectinvolvementwiththehomicides.Usingtheinformationderived,theReviewBoardwillidentifycommoncharacteristicsanddeveloprecommendationstoimprovethesystemsofagenciesandorganizationsinvolvedtobetterprotectandservevictimsofdomesticabuse.
BoardMembersPreviously,theReviewBoardhasbeencomposedofeighteen(18)members(ordesignees).AsofNovember1,2019,theReviewBoardiscomposedoftwenty(20)membersasfollows:
1. Eightofthemembersshallbe:a. ChiefMedicalExaminer;b. DesigneeoftheOfficeofAttorneyGeneral,VictimServicesUnit;c. StateCommissionerofHealth;d. StateDepartmentofHealth,Director,InjuryPreventionServices;e. Director,DepartmentofHumanServices;f. Director,OklahomaStateBureauofInvestigation;g. Commissioner,DepartmentofMentalHealthandSubstanceAbuseServices;andh. ExecutiveDirector,OfficeofJuvenileAffairs.
2. TenReviewBoardmembersareappointedbytheAttorneyGeneral,eachservetermsoftwo(2)
years,andareeligibleforreappointment.EachofthenominatingagenciessubmitthenamesofthreenomineesforconsiderationofappointmentbytheAttorneyGeneral
a. ASheriff(OklahomaSheriff’sAssociation);b. AChiefofamunicipalpolicedepartment(OklahomaAssociationofChiefsofPolice);c. AnattorneylicensedinOklahomawhoisinprivatepractice(OklahomaCountyBar
Association);d. ADistrictAttorney(DistrictAttorneysCouncil);e. Aphysician(OklahomaStateMedicalAssociation);f. Aphysician(OklahomaOsteopathicAssociation);g. Anurse(OklahomaNursesAssociation;
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AppendixAOklahomaDomesticViolenceFatalityReviewBoard
h. Adomesticviolenceadvocate(OklahomaCoalitionAgainstDomesticViolenceand
SexualAssault);i. Adomesticviolencesurvivor(OklahomaCoalitionAgainstDomesticViolenceand
SexualAssault);j. Atribaldomesticviolenceadvocate(NativeAllianceAgainstViolence);k. Atribaldomesticviolencesurvivor(NativeAllianceAgainstViolence);andl. Ajudge(OklahomaSupremeCourt).
WhatTypesofCasesareReviewed?TheReviewBoardidentifiesandreviewsdomesticviolence‐relatedhomicidesthatoccurinOklahoma.TheReviewBoardidentifiesandreportsonawidearrayofdomesticviolencecases,includingintimatepartnerhomicidesandfamilyhomicidescommittedbyfamilymemberswhoarenotintimatepartners,androommates.Familymembersinclude,butarenotlimitedto,parents,fosterparents,children,siblings,grandparents,grandchildren,aunts,uncles,andcousins.TheReviewBoard’suseofsuchawidedefinitionisconsistentwiththeOklahomastatutorydefinitionofdomesticabuse(22O.S.§60.1.):
"Domesticabuse"meansanyactofphysicalharm,orthethreatofimminentphysicalharmwhichiscommittedbyanadult,emancipatedminor,orminorchildthirteen(13)yearsofageorolderagainstanotheradult,emancipatedminororminorchildwhoarefamilyorhouseholdmembersorwhoareorwereinadatingrelationship.Inadditiontotherelationshipsdefinedinstatute,theReviewBoardalsoidentifiesandreportsondomesticviolence‐relatedhomicidesthatincludevictimfatalitiesinwhichahomicideperpetratorkillsanon‐familymember,suchasabystanderorGoodSamaritan(non‐involvedpersonwhointervenesonbehalfofavictim).
CaseReviewProcessThefatalityreviewprocessissimilartoapublichealthmodelthatpromotesandprotectsthehealthofpeopleandthecommunitieswheretheylive,learn,work,andplay.TheReviewBoardcollectsinformationrelatedtocasesfromvarioussources,includingthemedicalexaminer(autopsies),criminalandcivilcourtdocuments,lawenforcementagencies,DistrictAttorneys,DepartmentofHumanServices,mentalhealthagencies,hospitals,battererinterventionprograms,andmediareports.Insomecases,whenappropriate,theReviewBoardwillobtainbackgroundinformationfromsurvivingfamilymembers,friends,andothers.BecausetheReviewBoardconductsin‐depthreviews,theyareonlyabletoreviewaportionoftheoverallnumberofqualifyingdomesticviolencehomicidesinanygivenyear.TheProgramManagermonitorstheremainderofthecases.TheReviewBoarddiscussesselectedcasesduringmonthlyclosed,confidentialmeetings.TheReviewBoardstrivestofindwaysinwhichthesystemcouldhavebetterservedthedeceasedvictimspriortotheirdeathsandsurvivingfamilymembers.
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AppendixAOklahomaDomesticViolenceFatalityReviewBoard
TheReviewProcess:
Reviewthecircumstancesandcontextofthedeath; Establishatimelineofeventsleadinguptothedeath; Identifypossiblelethalityriskfactors(“redflags”); Determinewhichagencieswereinvolvedwiththehomicideperpetrator,victim,and
childrenpriortothedeath; Identifyagenciesandsystemresponse; Identifycollaborationandcommunicationbetweentheagenciesinvolved; Identifyagencies’useofevidence‐basedbestpractices; Identifyvictimchallengesandbarrierstoobtaininghelp(suchaslanguage,income,
transportation,culturalbeliefs,andvalues); Identifypossiblegapsinthesystemresponsetodomesticviolence(suchascriminaljustice,
protectiveorder,juvenile/familycourt,lawenforcement,judiciary,andchildwelfare);and Ask,“Isthereanythingthatcouldhavebeendonedifferentlytoimprovethesystemicand/or
communityresponsetothevictimand/orperpetrator?”
ReviewBoardRecommendationsTheReviewBoardusesdataandinformationfromin‐depthcasereviewstodevelopannualrecommendations.Recommendationsarecriticaltoimprovingourcommunities’abilitytorespondeffectivelytodomesticviolence,andenhancesafetyandaccesstoresourcesforsurvivors.Recommendationsaredevelopedandpresentedasbroad,ratherthancasespecific,suggestionsforprofessionalsandsystemstoaddressthepressingissueofdomesticviolence.Additionally,theReviewBoardmonitorsupdatesonrecommendationsmadeinpreviousyears.
TheReviewBoardmakesrecommendationsbasedoncasesreviewedinthecalendaryear.However,actualhomicidesreviewedinanygivencalendaryearmaynotnecessarilyhaveoccurredinthesameyearasthereview.Sincethecasemustfirstbeclosedinthecriminaljusticesystem,thereisusuallyadelaybetweenthetimetheactualhomicideoccurredandwhenthecaseisreviewed.Aclosedcaseisoneinwhichthehomicideperpetratorisdeceasedorhasgonethroughinitialcourtproceedings.Theexceptionisinthecaseofmurder‐suicideorfamilicide.Withnosurvivingperpetrators,therearenocriminallegalproceedings.Therefore,theReviewBoardreviewsthesecasesincloserproximitytotheactualtimethedeatheventoccurred. TheReviewBoardisoptimisticthatsystems,organizations,andagenciesinvolvedinthesafetyofvictims,andinholdingperpetratorsofdomesticviolenceaccountablefortheirviolentandabusivebehavior,willreviewandimplementtherecommendationsinasustainedcommunityefforttopreventhomicideandincreasethequalityoflifeforfamiliesinOklahoma.
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AppendixAOklahomaDomesticViolenceFatalityReviewBoard
DisseminationofReviewBoardFindingsandRecommendationsEachyear,theReviewBoarddisseminatesfindingsintheformofanannualstatisticalreporttothelegislatureaswellasnumerousagencies,organizations,andotherstakeholdersinOklahoma.
ConfidentialityEffectivecasereviewrequiresaccesstorecordsandreportspertainingtovictimsandperpetrators.TheReviewBoardcollectsandmaintainsallinformationinaconfidentialmannerinaccordancewith22O.S.§1601.Perstatute,theReviewBoarddoesnotreportpersonallyidentifyinginformationandinsteadreportsde-identifiedandaggregateddatatomaintaintheconfidentialityandprivacyofdomesticviolence‐relatedhomicidevictimsandtheirfamilies.Whenappropriate,theReviewBoardinvitesvictims’familiestoappearbeforetheReviewBoardtotelltheirstories.Theirnamesremainconfidential.
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AppendixBDomesticViolenceLethality‐ScreenforFirstResponders
Officer: Date: Case#:
Victim: Offender: Relationship:
Address of Incident: Date and Time of Incident:
____ Check here if the victim did not answer any of these questions.
A “Yes” response to any of Questions 1‐5 automatically triggers the protocol referral.
1. Has the person ever threatened to use or used a weapon against the victim? ___ Yes ____No ____Refused
2. Has the person ever threatened to kill the victim or the children of the victim? ___ Yes ____No ____Refused
3. Has the person ever tried to choke the victim? ___ Yes ____No ____Refused
4. Has the person ever tried or threatened to kill him/herself? ___ Yes ____No ____Refused
5. Does the victim think the person will try to kill the victim? ___ Yes ____No ____Refused
Negative responses to Question 1‐5 but positive responses to at least three of Questions #6‐11 trigger the protocol referral.
6. Does the person have a gun or can he/she get one easily? ___ Yes ____No ___Refused
7. Is the person violently or constantly jealous or does the person attempt to ___ Yes ____No ___Refused control most of the daily activities of the victim?
8. Does the person follow or spy on the victim or leave the victim threatening ___ Yes ____No ___Refused or unwanted messages, phone calls or text messages?
9. Does the victim have any children the person knows is not his/her own child? ___ Yes ____No ____Refused
10. Has the victim left or separated from the person after living together or ___ Yes ____No ____Refused being married?
11. Is the person unemployed? ___ Yes ____No ____Refused
An officer may trigger the protocol referral, if not already triggered above, as a result of the victim’s response to the below question, or whenever the officer believes the victim is in a potentially lethal situation.
Is there anything else that worries the victim about his or her safety? If so, what worries the victim?
Check one: ____ Victim screened in according to the protocol ____ Victim screened in based on the belief of the officer ____ Victim did not screen in
If victim screened in: Did the officer contact the local OAG Certified DV/SA Program or Tribal DV/SA Program? ___ Yes ____No If “no” state why: _______________________________________________________________________________ If the officer is unable to make contact with a hotline advocate at the local program after at least two attempts within a 10 minute period, contact the State SAFELINE at 1‐800‐522‐SAFE (7233). After advising the victim of high risk for danger/lethality, did the victim speak with the hotline advocate? ___ Yes ___No Note: The questions above and the criteria for determining the level of risk a person faces is based on the best available research on factors associated with lethal violence by a current or former intimate partner. However, each situation may present unique factors that influence risk for lethal violence that are not captured by this screen. Although most victims who screen “positive” or “high danger” would not be expected to be killed, these victims face much higher risk than of other victims of intimate partner violence.
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AppendixCResourcesforProfessionals
TheDomesticViolenceFatalityReviewBoardhascompiledalistoflocalandnationaldomesticviolenceresourcesthatprofessionalsmightfindhelpfulintheirworkandthatwillinformandsupportdomesticviolenceinterventionandpreventionefforts,promotebestpracticesandstrategiestoimproveourcollectiveresponsetodomesticviolence.
LOCALRESOURCES
OKLAHOMACOALITIONAGAINSTDOMESTICVIOLENCEANDSEXUALASSAULT405‐524‐0700•http://ocadvsa.org/TheOklahomaCoalitionAgainstDomesticViolenceandSexualAssaultisanonprofitorganizationthatworkstoorganizeandmobilizedomesticviolencememberprogramstopreventandeliminatesexualanddomesticviolenceandstalkinginOklahomaandIndianCountry.ThewebsiteprovidesinformationrelatedtotheactivitiesoftheOCADVSAandofferslinkstodomesticviolence,sexualassault,andstalkingtrainingmaterialsforadvocates,lawenforcement,mentalhealth,battererinterventionprograms,andmore.Alistofdomesticviolencememberprogramsisprovided.
NATIVEALLIANCEAGAINSTVIOLENCE
405‐801‐2277•https://oknaav.org/TheNativeAllianceAgainstViolence(NAAV),isanonprofitorganizationoperatingasOklahoma’sonlytribaldomesticviolenceandsexualassaultcoalition.TheNAAVservesOklahoma’sfederallyrecognizedtribesandtheirtribalprogramsthatprovidevictimswiththeprotectionandservicestheyneedtopursuesafeandhealthylives.TheNAAVwebsitecontainsalistoftribaldomesticviolenceprogramsinOklahomaandotherinformationalresources.
NATIONALRESOURCES
NATIONALRESOURCECENTERONDOMESTICVIOLENCE1‐800‐537‐2238•www.nrcdv.organdwww.vawnet.orgTheNationalResourceCenteronDomesticViolence(NRCDV)isacomprehensivesourceofinformationforthosewantingtoeducatethemselvesandhelpothersonthemanyissuesrelatedtodomesticviolence.Keyinitiativesworktoimprovecommunityresponsetodomesticviolenceand,ultimately,preventitsoccurrence.NRCDVhasmanyresourcesavailabletoassistintheplanningofdomesticviolenceinterventionandpreventioneffortsandofferscomprehensivetechnicalassistance,training,andresourcedevelopment.
NATIONALDOMESTICVIOLENCEHOTLINE1‐800‐799‐7233•800‐787‐3224(TTY)•www.thehotline.orgSince1996,theNationalDomesticViolenceHotlinehasbeenthevitallinktosafetyforwomen,men,children,andfamiliesaffectedbydomesticviolence.TheHotlinerespondstocalls24/7,365
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AppendixCResourcesforProfessionals
daysayearandprovidesconfidential,one‐on‐onesupporttoeachcallerorbychatavailablethroughthewebsite,offeringcrisisintervention,optionsfornextsteps,anddirectconnectiontosourcesforimmediatesafety.Theirdatabaseholdsover5,000agenciesandresourcesincommunitiesacrossthecountry.Bilingualadvocatesareonhandtospeakwithcallers,andtheirLanguageLineofferstranslationsin170+differentlanguages.TheHotlineisanexcellentsourceofhelpforconcernedfriends,family,co‐workers,andothersseekinginformationandguidanceonhowtohelp.TheHotlineeducatescommunitiesthroughevents,campaigns,anddynamicpartnerships.
BATTEREDWOMEN’SJUSTICEPROJECT1‐800‐903‐0111,ext.3•www.bwjp.orgTheBatteredWomen’sJusticeProjectisthenationalresourcecenteroncivilandcriminaljusticeresponsestointimatepartnerviolence.Theyprovidetechnicalassistanceandtrainingtoprofessionalsengagedinthesesystems:advocates,civilattorneys,judgesandrelatedcourtpersonnel,lawenforcementofficers,prosecutors,probationofficers,battererinterventionprogramstaff,anddefenseattorneys;aswellastopolicymakers,themedia,andvictims,includingincarceratedvictims,andtheirfamiliesandfriends.BWJPalsoassiststribalandmilitarypersonnelwhofulfillequivalentpositionsintheirrespectiveinstitutionalresponsestointimatepartnerviolence.
BATTEREDWOMEN’SJUSTICEPROJECTNATIONALRESOURCECENTERONDOMESTICVIOLENCEANDFIREARMS1‐800‐903‐0111•www.bwjp.org/our‐work/projects/firearms‐project.htmlTheNationalResourceCenteronDomesticViolenceandFirearmsandtheSaferFamilies,SaferCommunitiesProjectworktopreventdomesticviolence‐relatedhomicidesinvolvingfirearms.Thewebsiteprovidesresourcespertainingtoeffectiveinterventionsinbothcriminalandcivildomesticviolencecasesthatcandecreasetheriskposedbydangerousdomestic‐violenceoffenderswithaccesstofirearms.
NATIONALHEALTHRESOURCECENTERONDOMESTICVIOLENCE1‐888‐792‐2873•www.futureswithoutviolence.org/healthTheNationalHealthResourceCenteronDomesticViolence(HRC)supportshealthcareprofessionals,domesticviolenceexperts,survivors,andpolicymakersatalllevelsastheyimprovehealthcare’sresponsetodomesticviolence.Thecenterofferspersonalized,experttechnicalassistanceatprofessionalconferencesandprovidesanonlinetoolkitforhealthcareprovidersanddomesticviolenceadvocatestoprepareaclinicalpracticetoaddressdomesticandsexualviolence,includingscreeninginstruments,samplescriptsforproviders,andpatientandprovidereducationalresources.
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AppendixCResourcesforProfessionals
NATIONALCENTERONDOMESTICVIOLENCE,TRAUMA,ANDMENTALHEALTH312‐726‐7020•www.nationalcenterdvtraumamh.orgTheNationalCenteronDomesticViolence,TraumaandMentalHealthprovidestraining,support,andconsultationtoadvocates,mentalhealthandsubstanceabuseproviders,legalprofessionals,andpolicymakersastheyworktoimproveagencyandsystems‐levelresponsestosurvivorsandtheirchildreninawaythatissurvivor‐definedandrootedintheprinciplesofsocialjustice.Thewebsiteoffersresources,educationalmaterialsandwebinarsrelatedtodomesticviolence,trauma,andmentalhealthdirectedtowardvariousprofessionalsgroups.
CULTURALLY‐SPECIFICRESOURCESNATIVEALLIANCEAGAINSTVIOLENCE(405)801‐227•https://oknaav.org/Createdin2009,theNativeAllianceAgainstViolence(NAAV),isanonprofitorganizationoperatingasOklahoma’sonlytribaldomesticviolenceandsexualassaultcoalition.TheNAAVisnotadirectserviceprovider,howevertheydoserveOklahoma’sfederallyrecognizedtribesandtheirtribaldomesticviolenceandsexualassaultprograms.
NATIONALINDIGENOUSWOMEN’SRESOURCECENTER1‐855‐649‐7299•www.niwrc.orgTheNationalIndigenousWomen’sResourceCenter,Inc.(NIWRC)isaNativenonprofitorganizationthatwasspecificallycreatedtoserveastheNationalIndianResourceCenterAddressingDomesticViolenceandSafetyforIndianWomen.NIWRCseekstoenhancethecapacityofAmericanIndianandAlaskaNativeTribes,NativeHawaiians,andTribalandNativeHawaiianorganizationstorespondtodomesticviolenceandprovidepublicawareness,resourcedevelopment,trainingandtechnicalassistance,policydevelopment,andresearchactivities.ASIANANDPACIFICISLANDERINSTITUTEONGENDER‐BASEDDOMESTICVIOLENCE415‐568‐3315•www.apiidv.orgTheAsianPacificInstituteonGender‐BasedDomesticViolenceisanationalresourcecenterondomesticviolence,sexualviolence,trafficking,andotherformsofgender‐basedviolenceinAsianandPacificIslandercommunities.ItanalyzescriticalissuesaffectingAsianandPacificIslandersurvivors;providestraining,technicalassistance,andpolicyanalysis;andmaintainsaclearinghouseofinformationongenderviolence,currentresearch,andculturally‐specificmodelsofinterventionandcommunityengagement.TheInstituteservesanationalnetworkofadvocates,community‐basedserviceprograms,federalagencies,nationalandstateorganizations,legal,health,andmentalhealthprofessionals,researchers,policyadvocates,andactivistsfromsocialjusticeorganizationsworkingtoeliminateviolenceagainstwomen.
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AppendixCResourcesforProfessionals
CASADEESPERANZA:NATIONALLATIN@NETWORKOFHEALTHYFAMILIESANDCOMMUNITIES651‐646‐5553•www.casadeesperanza.org/national‐latino‐networkTheCasaDeEsperanza,Latin@NetworkofHealthyFamiliesandCommunitiesisaleading,nationalLatin@organization,foundedin1982,providingemergencyshelterforLatinasandotherwomen,family advocacy,andshelterservicestoleadershipdevelopmentandcommunityengagementopportunitiesforLatin@youth,women,andmen.TheNetworkprovidestrainingandconsultationstopractitionersandactiviststhroughouttheUS,aswellasinLatinAmerica,andproducespracticalpublicationsandtoolsforthefield,disseminatesrelevant,up‐to‐dateinformationandfacilitatesanonlinelearningcommunitythatsupportspractitioners,policymakers,andresearcherswhoareworkingtoenddomesticviolence.
INSTITUTEONDOMESTICVIOLENCEINTHEAFRICANAMERICANCOMMUNITY[CLOSED]651‐331‐6555•Dr.OliverJ.WilliamsEmail:[email protected]•http://idvaac.org/TheInstituteonDomesticViolenceintheAfricanAmericanCommunity(IDVAAC)wasanorganizationfocusedontheuniquecircumstancesandlifeexperiencesofAfricanAmericansastheyseekresourcesandremediesrelatedtothevictimizationandperpetrationofdomesticviolenceintheircommunity.IDVAACfocusedontheuniquecircumstancesofAfricanAmericansastheyfaceissuesrelatedtodomesticviolence,includingintimatepartnerviolence,childabuse,eldermaltreatment,andcommunityviolence.IDVAACclosedinSeptember2016,buttheinformationonthewebsiteandconsultingservicesremainavailable.
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OklahomaDomesticViolenceFatalityReviewBoardOklahomaOfficeoftheAttorneyGeneral313N.E.21stStreetOklahomaCity,OK73105
Phone:405‐522‐1984Fax:405‐557‐1770
Ifyouorsomeoneyouknowneedshelpinadomesticviolencesituation,pleasecall:
SafeLine1‐800‐522‐SAFE(7233)Ifyouneedgeneralinformationaboutdomestic
violence,pleasecall:
OklahomaCoalitionAgainstDomesticViolenceandSexualAssault(OCADVSA)
(405)524‐0700
TheOfficeoftheAttorneyGeneralVictimServicesUnit(405)521‐3921
Ifyouneedmoreinformationaboutthe
OklahomaDomesticViolenceFatalityReviewBoard,pleasecall:
TheOfficeoftheAttorneyGeneral(405)522‐1984
Ifyouareinanemergencysituationpleasedial9‐1‐1.
Pleasegotowww.oag.ok.gov Copiesofreportsfrompreviousyears; OklahomaDomesticViolenceFatality
ReviewBoardmission,purpose,definitions,methodsandlimitationsofdatacollection,anddata;and
HistoryoftheOklahomaDomesticViolenceFatalityReviewBoard.
Pleasewidelydisseminatethisannualreport.
PublicationpreparedbytheOklahomaOfficeoftheAttorneyGeneral,MikeHunter,onbehalfoftheOklahomaDomesticViolenceFatalityReviewBoard.