High Risk Case Response Teams
Standards of Excellence

Excellent multidisciplinary teams are those that work in concert to monitor and contain the perpetrator to increase the safety of the intended victim(s). This is a collaborative problem solving model.

• All team members have received training in risk assessment
• All team members are aware of their roles, responsibilities and confidentiality restrictions
• The team leader is a skilled facilitator/leader of the team and encourages communication and accountability among team members
• The team has regularly scheduled meetings
• The team has an agreed upon protocol for urgent cases that arise between meetings
• All team members have the information they need to accomplish its goal of offender containment and victim safety
• The team collects statistics and tracks outcomes of case dispositions and victim safety
• The team issues an annual report to the community and its stakeholders on any issues distinctive to its community; the impact of the work of the team, and documents emerging best practices

The following recommendations are specific for law enforcement and domestic violence organizations as the majority of case referrals and follow up services originate with these team partners.

Law Enforcement

• Law enforcement fully adopts the Massachusetts Policy for Law Enforcement Response to Domestic
• At least 70% of law enforcement officers are trained in risk assessment

Domestic Violence Service Providers

• All staff are trained in risk assessment
• Staff has received certification in Danger Assessment
• Appoint a lead advocate for each high risk case
• Present updates and/or new high risk cases to staff members

For more information on the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center’s consulting services for high risk case response teams, please call 978-834-9710 or e-mail kdunne@jeannegeigercrisiscenter.org.