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Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-73

§9381 Fatality reviews

Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle D— - Air Force and Space Force › Part PART II— - PERSONNEL › Chapter CHAPTER 949— - MISCELLANEOUS INVESTIGATION REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER DUTIES › § 9381

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Air Force must do a fair, multi‑discipline review called a fatality review after any death known or suspected to come from domestic violence or child abuse when the person who died is an active‑duty Air Force or Space Force member, a current or former dependent of an active‑duty member, or a current or former intimate partner who shared a child or home with an active‑duty member. Each review report must have a short summary, data about the victim and assailant (age, injuries, autopsy results, method or weapon, police info, and household/family details), how the case was handled legally, any DoD system responses or failures, important findings, and suggestions for changes in the Air Force or the Defense Department. The Secretary of Defense must issue uniform rules for how all military departments do these reviews.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §9381

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary of the Air Force shall conduct a multidisciplinary, impartial review (referred to as a “fatality review”) in the case of each fatality known or suspected to have resulted from domestic violence or child abuse against any of the following:
(1)A member of the Air Force or the Space Force on active duty.
(2)A current or former dependent of a member of the Air Force or the Space Force on active duty.
(3)A current or former intimate partner who has a child in common or has shared a common domicile with a member of the Air Force or the Space Force on active duty.
(b)The report of a fatality review under subsection (a) shall, at a minimum, include the following:
(1)An executive summary.
(2)Data setting forth victim demographics, injuries, autopsy findings, homicide or suicide methods, weapons, police information, assailant demographics, and household and family information.
(3)Legal disposition.
(4)System intervention and failures, if any, within the Department of Defense.
(5)A discussion of significant findings.
(6)Recommendations for systemic changes, if any, within the Department of the Air Force and the Department of Defense.
(c)The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe guidance, which shall be uniform for the military departments, for the conduct of reviews by the Secretary under subsection (a).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Prior sections 9381 to 9383 were repealed by Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XII, § 1241(i)(2), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2508. section 9381, added Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title XI, § 1178(b), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1769, established the Aviation Leadership Program. See section 348 of this title. section 9382, added Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title XI, § 1178(b), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1769, related to the Secretary of the Air Force providing to a person receiving training transportation, supplies, equipment, clothing, billeting, food, and health services. section 9383, added Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title XI, § 1178(b), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1769, related to the Secretary of the Air Force paying a living allowance to a person receiving training. Other prior sections 9381 to 9383 and prior sections 9384 to 9387 were repealed by Pub. L. 88–647, title III, § 301(26), Oct. 13, 1964, 78 Stat. 1073. See chapter 103 of this title. section 9381, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 568, defined “advanced training”. section 9382, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 568; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–861, § 33(a)(44), 72 Stat. 1567, related to establishment and composition of Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. section 9383, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 569, related to admission and training of medical, dental, pharmacy and veterinary students. section 9384, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 569; Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(202), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1541, set out courses of training. section 9385, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 569, authorized operation and maintenance of training camps. section 9386, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 570, provided for supplies and uniforms. section 9387, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 570, provided for advanced training and compensation therefor.

Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a)(1) to (3). Pub. L. 116–283 inserted “or the Space Force” after “Air Force”. 2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 9061 of this title as this section.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2018 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of

Amendments

and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

Effective Date

Section applicable to fatalities that occur on or after Nov. 24, 2003, see section 576(d) of Pub. L. 108–136, set out as a note under section 4061 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 9381

Title 10 — Armed Forces

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73