Injury Surveillance

Adult Fatality Review

Nationally, adult fatality review teams began operating in some states as early as 1990. Review teams are currently operating in many metropolitan areas around the United States.

The Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (HCDVCC) came into existence in 1996, with a goal of initiating a fatality review team to identify gaps in community services and coordinate intervention and prevention efforts among the many area agencies concerned with domestic or family violence.

Domestic or Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious, preventable public health problem affecting more than 32 million Americans. The term “intimate partner violence” describes physical, sexual, or psychological harm by a current or former partner or spouse. This type of violence can occur among heterosexual or same-sex couples and does not require sexual intimacy (CDC Intimate Partner Violence Facts)

In 2001 the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 515, amending Chapter 672 of the Texas Health and Safety Code to allow for the formation of adult fatality review teams in Texas counties.  Similar to Child Fatality Review legislation, the Code allows for the collection of all information concerning each reviewed death. Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services (HCPHES) partnered with the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (HCDVCC) to establish the Adult Violent Death Review Team (AVDRT) in August 2003.

The team is a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary coalition that systematically reviews fatalities caused by interpersonal violence and suicide in Houston and Harris County.  The ultimate goal of the AVDRT is to gain a better understanding of the circumstances surrounding adult intentional injury deaths in order to more efficiently target funding and prevention efforts.

Currently, there are two sections of AVDRT in operation, the Domestic Violence Death Review Team (DVDRT) and the Elder Abuse Fatality Review Team (EFFORT).

DVDRT Review Process

Each year members of the team representing the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, Harris County Sheriff’s Department and Houston Police Department select some of the homicide cases that have been finalized through the justice system in which the death occurred during a family violence incident.  These cases are thoroughly reviewed to create a better understanding of the circumstances of each death. 

For more information about the AVDRT, call (713) 439-6021.

Member Agencies

• Texas Commission on Access to Justice

• Harris County District Attorney's Office

• Northwest Assistance Ministries

• Shalom Bayit

• The Bridge

• Memorial Hermann Healthcare System

• Houston Police Department

• Harris County Sheriff's Office

• Prevent International Parental Child Abduction (PIPCA)

• Humble Police Department

• Texas Woman's University

• Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services

• Texas Department of Family Protective Services

• Crisis Intervention of Houston, Inc.

• Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse

• Harris County Medical Examiner's Office

• Montrose Counseling Center

Reports

• 2004 Adult Fatality Review Team Report

• 2007 Adult Fatality Review Team Report

Resources

• Human-Animal Bond 

• Cruelty Connections