Bill would codify domestic violence fatality review committee; DOJ urges passage

Sen. Regina Birdsall presented Senate Bill 140 on behalf of the Department of Justice. The bill would establish a statutory domestic violence fatality review committee within the New Hampshire Department of Justice to conduct multidisciplinary reviews of deaths related to domestic violence and recommend system improvements.

Matthew Brodhead, associate attorney general, said the bill reflects consensus among stakeholders and urged the committee to pass SB 140. “By way of background, one in two women and more than two in five men have reported experiencing intimate partner violence at some point in their lives,” Brodhead said, and then cited New Hampshire homicide data showing a substantial share of killings involve family or intimate partners. He noted the committee has operated under executive order since about 2001 and was designed to include broad‑based membership to study closed cases and identify prevention opportunities.

Judge Susan Carbon, a retired circuit court judge who helped establish New Hampshire’s original review effort, testified in support and described the work as “no‑blame, no‑shame” systemwide review that has produced annual reports and follow‑up tracking. She urged codification so the committee’s systemic reviews and recommendations are continued in statute.

Testimony emphasized the committee’s role in identifying gaps in services and response across agencies and in recommending interventions intended to reduce future fatalities. Brodhead said more than 30 states have adopted statutory fatality review laws and that SB 140 aligns with best practices.

The committee accepted testimony and written letters of support; the bill was recommended for further consideration by the Judiciary Committee.