Rose Brooks Center’s groundbreaking Domestic Violence Fatality Review is preventing domestic violence, supporting survivors, and creating systemic change in Missouri.
Rose Brooks Center has led a dedicated team of advocates, law enforcement professionals, and community leaders to study and prevent domestic violence fatalities. What began over two decades ago has now culminated in a groundbreaking project that could save countless lives.
Missouri’s Landmark Domestic Violence Fatality Review Initiative
In 2018, Missouri passed statute 455.560, enabling counties and cities to establish Domestic Violence Fatality Review (DVFR) Panels. The goal of a DVFR Panel is to review a domestic violence homicide to better understand the dynamics of domestic violence-related homicides , suicides, and near fatal cases to develop recommendations for systemic change, without faulting any particular individual or agency.
This year, Jackson County became the first in the state to complete and submit a comprehensive review, thanks to Jackson County DVFR Panel members: Rose Brooks Center CEO Lisa Fleming (chair); Kansas City Municipal Court Deputy Court Administrator Josh Bateman (co-chair); Synergy Services VP of Domestic Violence Services Dr. Sara Brammer; Hope House COO Ilene Shehan; and Rose Brooks Center Lethality Assessment Coordinator Molly Brickley.
Understanding the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Process
By examining a specific intimate partner violence (IPV) homicide case from start to finish, the JCDVFR Panel carefully identified red flags and systemic gaps that contribute to such devastating outcomes. The panel began the review process in May 2023 with intensive onboarding training before collecting data and conducting interviews. Six months later, the panel used their findings to form recommendations.
Earlier this year, the panel brought their recommendations to Jackson County Prosecutor, Melesa Johnson. On March 12th, the JCDVFR Panel presented this report to key state leaders and advocacy groups including the Missouri Coalition of Domestic and Sexual Violence (MOCADSV), President Pro Tem of the Senate Cindy OâLaughlin, Speaker of the House Jon Patterson, and Governor Kehoeâs Policy Team.
Each step of the review process had a high level of compassion and confidentiality – a testament to Rose Brooks Centerâs decades of established credibility in domestic violence education. Fleming stated, “We never lost sight of the individual who lost her life as we discussed the ways in which all of our organizations could change how we serve our community and work together in order to save lives.”
A Collaborative Journey of Advocacy and Change
This report would not have been possible without the support of key community partners, notably law enforcement agencies throughout Jackson County.
Detective Carolina Denmark from the Blue Springs Police Department noted the long-term effects of this work: “This committee’s efforts in advocating for survivors and holding offenders accountable are truly commendable. The key initiatives outlined are critical in enhancing community awareness and support systems . . . and I fully support our continued focus on these.”
Overcoming Challenges: Community Commitment
The commitment of Rose Brook Centerâs community partners in this effort is doubly impactful, as there was no dedicated funding for this report. Each participating entity, with Rose Brooks Center at the forefront, has invested significant resources to make this review possible.
Fleming stressed the importance of collaboration in this project saying, âI am so thankful for the community partners who have worked together with Rose Brooks Center for years to make it possible for our community to conduct a domestic violence fatality review. It proved to be a valuable process for centering victims of domestic violence in our collaborative efforts to bring about change.â
Ending the Cycle: Project SAFE’s Innovative Prevention Approach
One of the most significant recommendations from the review was to enhance prevention efforts, particularly among students. Cayla Burlingame, Rose Brooks Center’s Project SAFE Prevention Specialist, worked directly with the IVP homicide victimâs family to paint a holistic portrait of their life. In doing so, she can help end the cycle of domestic violence by reaching young people. Burlingame said, “When I teach our domestic violence lesson to middle and high school students, I think about the victim’s life I became so intimately familiar with. I think about the red flag behavior that was present in the relationship. I think about the lives it impacted. This informs how I can convey this material to the students for their own personal safety as well as their parent’s safety.”
Legislative Action and Future Steps
Support for violence prevention goes beyond party or county lines. Representatives Cecelie Williams (R, Jefferson County), Kemp Strickler (D, Jackson County), and Bill Irwin (R, Cass County) are currently championing anti-stalking legislation.
For this panel, the work doesn’t stop with the report. Upcoming meetings with Jackson County Police Chiefs and legislators will further advance these critical conversations.
As JCDVFR co-chair Josh Bateman reflected: “It has been a true honor to work with such dedicated people for two decades. Co-Chairing this process has, at the same time, been both humbling and rewarding. Presenting the work of this Committee to Jefferson City is the culmination of a lot of work by so many dedicated people.”
