Domestic Violence High-Risk Teams

Domestic Violence High-Risk Teams (DVHRTs) are multi-agency collaborative groups that identify and coordinate interventions for the most dangerous domestic violence cases, bringing together professionals from law enforcement, victim services, healthcare, and other organizations to develop safety plans and support survivors. This list highlights established teams in Massachusetts.

Core Functions

Core Functions of Domestic Violence High-Risk Teams:

• Case Assessment and Review: High-risk teams hold regular meetings to evaluate domestic violence cases that pose the greatest danger to survivors. These structured reviews ensure that the most serious situations receive immediate attention and comprehensive analysis.
• Information Sharing Across Agencies: Team members from law enforcement, social services, healthcare, and other agencies share critical information about high-risk cases while following legal and ethical protocols. This coordinated approach helps create a complete picture of each situation.
• Safety Planning and Risk Assessment: Teams develop comprehensive risk assessments, taking into account the specific threats they face. These risk assessments include ongoing safety planning with the survivors.
• Offender Monitoring and Accountability: High-risk offenders receive enhanced supervision and monitoring to prevent further violence. This includes tracking compliance with court orders, monitoring behavior patterns, and ensuring swift intervention when violations occur.
• Service Coordination and Support: Teams coordinate access to essential services and resources for survivors, including housing assistance, legal advocacy, counseling, and financial support. This ensures survivors receive comprehensive help without having to navigate multiple systems alone.

DVHRTs bring together various agencies that typically operate in silos, fostering information sharing and coordinated intervention plans. 

Core members often include: 

• Domestic Violence Agencies/Victim Advocates: Often lead or co-lead the team with a prosecutor’s office, providing expert knowledge on domestic violence dynamics, offering direct victim support, safety planning, and ensuring a victim-centered approach.
• Prosecutors' Offices: Often lead or co-lead the team with a domestic violence agency/victim advocate, involved in prioritizing the prosecution of high-risk cases, making informed bail and pretrial release recommendations, and holding offenders accountable.
• Law Enforcement: Police departments and sheriffs' departments play a crucial role in identifying high-risk cases, conducting safety checks, and enforcing protective orders.
• Probation and Parole: Monitor offenders, enforce probation/parole conditions, and provide updates on offender behavior.
• Corrections: Provide information regarding incarcerated offenders and release planning.
• Department of Children & Families: Address concerns when children are impacted by domestic violence.
• Intimate Partner Abuse Education Programs (IPAEPs): Offer insights into offender behavior and provide intervention services.
• Community Health Care Providers/Emergency Departments: Can identify victims and provide referrals and support.