The Fatality Review Commission, authorized by MCA 2-15-2017, seeks to reduce homicides caused by family violence. The Commission meets twice yearly to review closed domestic homicide cases.

The review seeks to:

  • identify gaps in Montana’s system for protecting domestic violence victims
  • better coordinate multi-agency efforts to protect those most at risk of domestic homicide

After consulting with the Attorney General, the Commission determines which cases it will review. The Office of Victim Services coordinates the Commission’s work.

The Attorney General appoints Commission members from representatives of involved federal, state and private agencies, the medical and mental health community, law enforcement and the courts, Native Americans, the legislature and the MT Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.

Commission Members:

Name Position Organization City
Beki Brandborg Team Facilitator Mediator Helena
Dan Murphy
 Detective Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement Butte
Caroline Fleming Executive Director Custer Network Against Domestic Assault Miles City
Diana Garrett Attorney Montana Legal Services Missoula
Jenny Eck Legislator House of Representatives Helena
Connie Harvey Therapist Self-Employed Lewistown
Marti Vining Administrator Child & Family Services Division Helena
Dan Doyle Professor University of Montana Missoula
Joan  McCracken
 Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Retired Billings
Chuck Munson Assistant Attorney General MT Department of Justice Helena
John Buttram Licensed Professional Counselor Batterers’ Treatment Program Kalispell
Lee Johnson
 Supervisor Division of Criminal Investigation Bozeman
Matthew Dale Team Coordinator Office of Victim Services Helena
Martha Rhoades Psychiatrist Billings Clinic Billings
Glen Stinar Administrator MT Law Enforcement Academy Helena
Dennis Loveless
 Judge City of East Helena East Helena
John C. Brown District Judge State of Montana Bozeman
Suzy Boylan Prosecutor Missoula County Missoula
Warren Hiebert Chaplain Gallatin County Sheriff’s Department Bozeman

Native American Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team Members:

Name Position Organization City
Beki Brandborg Team Facilitator Mediator Helena
Steve Lowe  Special Agent FBI Billings
Misty Kuhl Coordinator, Native American Outreach & Programming Rocky Mountain College Billings
Eric Barnosky Regional Administrator HHS/CFSD Miles City
Georgette Baggio Attorney Private practice Hardin
Harlan Trombley Native American Liaison Department of Corrections Great Falls
Jared Cobell Asst. U.S. Attorney Office of the U.S. Attorney Helena
Joan Eliel SAKI Coordinator Department of Justice Helena
Kelly McDonald Tribal Prosecutor CSK Tribal Court Pablo
Lacey Alexander-Small IMPACT Coordinator Big Horn Valley Health Center Hardin
Neil Websdale Director NDVFRI Flagstaff, AZ
Matthew Dale Team Coordinator Department of Justice Helena
Melissa Schlichting Assistant Attorney General Department of Justice Helena
Mistee Rides at the Door Presenting Officer Blackfeet Family Court Browning
John Robinson Judge (Retired) Northern Cheyenne Tribal Court Lame Deer
Stephanie Iron Shooter Caring Schools Coordinator Office of Public Instruction Billings
Wendy Bremner Victim Specialist Bureau of Indian Affairs Browning
Lenora Nioce Asst. SA in Charge Bureau of Indian Affairs Billings
Winona Tanner Chief Judge CSK Tribal Court Pablo
Rose Saddler Child Advocate Chippewa Cree Tribe Box Elder
Leslie Hagen Indian Country Training Coordinator U.S. Department of Justice Columbia, SC
Amanda Peterman Tribal Liaison U.S. Senator Steve Daines Hardin

Biennial Report – While the Commission meetings and records are confidential, state law requires it to publish a report detailing its findings and recommendations.

The National Domestic Violence Fatality Review Initiative, housed at the Northern Arizona University, acts as a clearinghouse and resource center dedicated to domestic violence fatality review.

The Alliance of Local Service Organizations (ALSO), based in Chicago, profiled the work of the commission in a 20-minute movie. The film explores and explains the process the commission follows when it conducts a review. The film is available here on the group’s website.

Contact

For further information about the Fatality Review Commission, contact:

Matthew Dale, Executive Director
Office of Victim Services
Department of Justice
P.O. Box 201410
Helena, MT 59620-1410
Phone: (406) 444-1907
Fax: (406) 442-2174
E-mail: [email protected]