A newly introduced Colorado bill for a Mandatory Lethality Assessment Act will require peace officers to provide victims of domestic violence with resources.
The assessment is a standardized screening tool peace officers would use to predict the likelihood of serious injury or death for victims of domestic violence, through a series of questions and assessing the victim’s environment. If a person is a high-risk victim, peace officers would be required to immediately connect the victim to a victim’s advocate by phone or in person.
Weld County lawmakers introduced the bipartisan bill Jan. 14, which would require peace officers to conduct a lethality assessment when responding to domestic violence incidents and to include the results of the assessment in the report.
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The bill would also require the attorney general’s office to work with a Colorado-based coalition that advocates for survivors of domestic violence to develop mandatory training to learn how to conduct a lethality assessment and provide victim referrals. Law enforcement agencies would also be required to ensure that every peace officer has completed the training.
Colorado State Rep. Ryan Gonzalez, who represents Weld County and is one of the bill sponsors, said the bill will help victims feel protected and safe enough to get help.
“As someone who has dealt very closely with domestic violence, I know firsthand how hard it is sometimes for victims to reach out for help. My mom suffered DV for 15 years at the hands of my father,” Gonzalez said.
Monica Duran, state representative from Jefferson County, said the bill would mandate that law enforcement connect people with life-saving resources through the lethality assessment.
"As a survivor of domestic violence, I know there are ways we can improve our response to domestic violence incidents that will keep survivors and Colorado communities safe from harm,” Duran said in a statement.
She said the bill could be a turning point for domestic violence survivors to remove themselves from a dangerous situation and get help. She is also sponsoring the bill.
Colorado senators Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Bryon Pelton, who represents Weld County, are also sponsoring the bill.
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