www.fcadv.org JUNE 2017 / FACES OF FATALITY 33 • FCADV collaborates with the Florida Sheriffs Association, Florida Police Chiefs Association and Florida Department of Law Enforcement to identify ways to enhance law enforcement collaboration and training opportunities. In addition to conducting statewide domestic violence training for law enforcement officers, FCADV created a comprehensive video training series related to the following topics: collecting photographic evidence, the use of risk assessments, excited utterances, the use of body cameras and school resource officers’ role in addressing teen dating violence. These training tools are made available to all law enforcement agencies through the FCADV website.13 • In collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General, FCADV conducts Advocacy, Technology, and Safety trainings that focus heavily on safety planning and evidence collection in cyberstalking cases throughout the state of Florida. The increased use of technology and the ever-growing access to phone and computer applications that can be used to cause harm require that all service providers possess an in-depth understanding of the way perpetrators use technology to stalk, harass, intimidate and isolate victims. Increasing survivors’ knowledge regarding the ability of perpetrators to stalk them through various forms of technology increases their knowledge regarding implementing safety measures to protect themselves and their children. • FCADV annually conducts trainings for medical professionals related to screening for and responding to domestic violence. FCADV trains doctors, nurses and other medical responders on the importance of providing information to survivors, often serving as a safe and trusted confidant for their disclosures of abuse. A medical advocacy workgroup continues to convene quarterly to develop recommendations for state level training and to promote prevention strategies within primary care medical settings. • In 2014, the Florida Legislature passed resolutions designating January as Stalking Awareness Month in Florida. According to the Stalking Resource Center, 76% of intimate partner femicide victims were stalked prior to the homicide.14 The Legislative resolutions brought needed attention to the crime of stalking and increases the opportunity for successful public awareness campaigns. FCADV utilizes this month to highlight stalking crimes and provide training regarding stalking and cyberstalking throughout the state. • The statewide team convened a victim-blaming workgroup to increase public education on the adverse impact of victim blaming. The workgroup will continue to focus on educating the media through the development of a guide that assists journalists, reporters and bloggers with identifying and utilizing language that recognizes intimidation and coercion in domestic violence and focuses on perpetrators’ responsibility for their crimes. • In 2016, FCADV applied for and was awarded Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding to implement a statewide Injunction for Protection Project to provide attorneys to assist survivors of domestic, dating and sexual violence and stalking with completing and filing Injunction for Protection petitions, and to represent survivors at final injunction and violation of injunction hearings. These accomplishments highlight the collaborative nature of Florida’s state and local fatality review teams, as well as the successful outcomes of the collaborative process. Effective interventions increase safety and promote justice for survivors and their children. The Faces of Fatality VII report and the five-year summary data confirm the ongoing necessity for a coordinated and comprehensive statewide response to domestic violence. Evidencebased risk indicators highly prevalent in each year’s report mirror the trends in the five-year data. The Statewide Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team and the 25 local teams are committed to seeking ongoing solutions that disrupt the patterns and reduce the risk of homicide for all domestic violence survivors and their children. The success of the state and local FRTs on implementing the recommendations described in this report is due to the support and determination of the various stakeholders, involved in the teams, whose dedication and commitment to survivors helps to saves lives every day in Florida. 13http://fcadv.org/projects-programs/law-enforcement 14Stalking Resource Center Fact Sheet, http://victimsofcrime.org/docs/default-source/src/stalking-fact-sheet-2015_ eng.pdf?status=Temp&sfvrsn=0.994206007104367
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