JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Action News is taking a closer look at the new domestic violence fatality report for 2013 in Duval County.
Every year a review team, including representatives from JSO, Family Court Services and Hubbard House, studies domestic violence homicides from the prior year.
The report aims to identify patterns and trends in deaths that might have been prevented. Here are three of the report’s findings and recommendations.
Finding No. 1 -- Lethal violence in Duval County is predominantly committed by males.
Recommendation: “The team believes we should not lose sight of the fact that this is primarily violence against women and that the female domestic violence victim may be in greater lethal danger.”
Finding No.2 -- A considerable body of research has shown that risks of lethal violence increase during periods of separation or threat of separation.
Recommendation: "The public also needs to be better informed about the risks involved in periods of separation, or when threats of separation are made, so that appropriate safety precautions can be taken.”
Finding No. 3 -- Most of the victims and suspects in 2013 had not had any prior contact with the criminal justice system.
Recommendation: “When there is a history of violence, whether prior arrests, civil injunctions for protection, or anything else - that history should be taken very seriously by service providers, police and judges.”
A telehealth service provider, MeMD, is offering confidential free medical exams via webcam to victims of domestic violence in shelters across the country. Click here for more information.