News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – Recommendations from the Domestic Violence Death Review Committee for 2018 have been posted online.

The report contains 15 recommendations made to government departments and other stakeholders in 2018 and the responses from those organizations.

“Every case in this report is a tragedy that we must learn from and all the information we can gather will help to inform future discussion on the root causes of domestic homicide, and how we can prevent it in the future,” said Justice and Public Safety Minister Hugh J. Flemming. “I thank the Domestic Violence Death Review Committee for its ongoing work and I am pleased to see departments are following up on the points that the committee has raised.”

The Domestic Violence Death Review Committee assists Coroner Services in reviewing deaths of persons that occur as a result of domestic violence, and to make recommendations to help prevent such deaths in similar circumstances.

The committee provides a confidential multi-disciplinary review of domestic violence deaths. It creates and maintains a comprehensive database about the victims and perpetrators of domestic violence fatalities and their circumstances.

“The work of this committee improves our understanding of the causes of domestic homicides and spotlights the vulnerabilities that exist for victims of abuse,” said Jérome Ouellette, acting chief coroner. “The committee is using this information to identify systemic gaps so that action can be taken to help prevent future deaths in similar circumstances and to stop domestic violence.”

In addition to a coroner, the committee is comprised of members representing law enforcement, Public Prosecutions Services, health, academia, research, service provision, interested residents and government.