October 26, 2009  Yuma, AZ -- A new team is forming to prevent deaths stemming from domestic violence.  The Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team aims to find out how the system failed those victims.  Prospective members gathered Monday morning at the Main Library in Yuma.

"I think it improves communication between agencies. I think it turns victims into something that's more than just a number or a line on a page," says Neil Websdale with the National Domestic Violence Fatality Review Initiative.

The group in Yuma County, like many around the nation, will analyse murder and suicide cases by looking at events leading up to the death, possible red flags, and the level of agency coordination.  The fourth step is finding a solution.

"There's some restrictions. The cases will be older. They have to be closed. A lot of them will be involving intricate minute details of emotion and relationship," says Yuma County Attorney Jon Smith. 

It is not a science.  In fact some observations can lead to new laws and protocols.  That's according to one law enforcement official who has served on a team in Pinal County.

"We saw cases where the murderer, the person who killed their intimate partner, used a firearm but they were a prohibited possessor. So going into the future, our recommendation to law enforcement is do a better job investigating how do guns come into play in this," says Apache Junction Police Chief Gerald Monahan.

It could take a couple of months to finalize the team.  The team aims to be completely comprehensive, and organizers have even invited defense attorneys to join.