Prince William launches domestic violence fatality review team to examine homicide cases and prevent future deaths

The Prince William County Board of County Supervisors on Nov. 18 voted unanimously to recognize a new Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team that will examine local homicides linked to domestic violence and recommend changes to reduce future fatalities. The board’s Office of Community Safety will lead the effort together with law enforcement, public‑health, court and nonprofit partners.

“Domestic violence in the United States kills approximately three people every day,” Rachel Taylor, director of the county’s Domestic Violence Council, told the board, citing national and state statistics and local hotline increases. The county’s review team will study closed cases to identify system breakdowns, map resources and make data‑driven recommendations to strengthen prevention, intervention and survivors’ supports.

Deputy County Executive Dan Alexander said the multidisciplinary team will use the reviews as a kind of “social autopsy” to find missed warning signs and improve coordination among agencies. Dr. Tahiti Yacine, director of the Office of Community Safety, described the fatality reviews as one piece in a broader community‑safety effort to build “left‑of‑bang” prevention and “right‑of‑bang” response capacity.

County officials said the team has signed interagency protocols and secured confidentiality protections under Virginia code (code section 32.1‑283.3) that shield review materials from public records and discovery. Participants will be protected from civil liability for information shared during the reviews, absent gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Board members praised the initiative and said they expected regular reports back to the board. The resolution recognizing and supporting the Greater Prince William Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team passed unanimously.