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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kate Croft | Victim Advocate | Red Lodge | Red Lodge |
| Connie Harvey | Therapist | Self-Employed | Lewistown |
| Jackson Bunch | Professor/Criminology | University of Montana | Missoula |
| Dan Murphy | LE Officer | Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement | Butte |
| Diana Garrett | Attorney | Montana Legal Services Association | Missoula |
| Vacant | Administrator | MT Law Enforcement Academy | Helena |
| Amy Reiger | Legislator | MT House of Representatives/Senate | Kalispell |
| Jen Buckley | Tribal Liaison | Self-Employed | Butte |
| Joan Eliel | Director OVS/Team Coordinator | Montana Dept. of Justice | Helena |
| John C. Brown | District Judge | State of Montana | Bozeman |
| Lee Johnson | Investigator | Division of Criminal Investigation | Bozeman |
| Julie Kelso | Psychiatrist | Riverstone Health | Billings |
| Nicole Grossberg | Administrator | Child and Family Services Division, DPHHS | Helena |
| Mandi Peterson | LE Officer/Chaplain Liaison | Helena Police Dept. | Helena |
| Selene Koepke | Assistant/Attorney General | Montana Dept. of Justice | Helena |
Native American Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team Members:
Name Position Organization City
Melissa Schlichting Attorney CSKT Pablo
Donna FallsDown* BIA District V MT & WY BIA Billings
Wendy Bremner* BIA Victim Witness Specialist BIA Browning
Amanda Myers AUSA US Attorney/Dist. of MT Great Falls
Stephanie Iron Shooter* American Indian Health Director MT DPHHS Billings
Annette Scalpcane* Staff Accountant National Indigenous Women's Resource Center Lame Deer
Mistee Rides At the Door* Tribal Judge Blackfeet Tribal Court Browning
Joan Eliel Director/Team Coordinator MT DOJ/OCPVS Helena
Steven Red Cloud* Special Agent/Criminal Investigator BIA Shelby
Hon. Stacie Four Star* Chief Judge Fort Peck Tribes Poplar
Harlan Trombley* Former Native American Liaison MT Dept. of Corrections Great Falls
Dr. Alan Ostby PhD, LCPC Indian Health Services Billings
Garrick Declay* Special Agent/Criminal Investigator BIA Billings
Eric Barnosky Regional Administrator DPHHS/CFSD Miles City
Leslie Hagen Indian Country Training Coordinator US. Department of Justice Columbia, SC
Dr. Neil Websdale Director National DV Fatality Review Phoenix, AZ
Joshua Sizemore Policy Advisor US Senator Steve Daines Billings
Peter Matt Native American Liaison US Senator Jon Tester Missoula
Larry McGrail Special Agent FBI Billings
Jen Buckley* Self-Employed Tveraa Photography Butte
Valerie Falls Down* Tribal Advocacy Coordinator MLSA Billings
Marcus Moulton Special Agent/Criminal Investigator BIA Billings
Misty Kuhl* Director Governor's Office of Indian Affairs Helena
Hon. Rod Souza District Court Judge 13th District Court Billings
Biennial Report – While the Commission meetings and records are confidential, state law requires it to publish a report detailing its findings and recommendations.
- 2023 Report (PDF)
- 2019 Report (PDF)
- 2017 Report (PDF)
- 2015 Report (PDF)
- 2013 Report (PDF)
- 2011 Report (PDF)
- 2009 Report (PDF)
- 2007 Report (PDF)
- 2005 Report (PDF)
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.
Contact
For further information about the Fatality Review Commission, contact:
Joan Eliel, 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]