Maryland § 4-704

§ 4-704.

    (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.