2
3
4
5
6 Cosponsors:
7 Cheryl K. Acton
8 Melissa G. Ballard
9 Brady Brammer
10 Jefferson S. Burton
Suzanne Harrison
Marsha Judkins
Rosemary T. Lesser
Karianne Lisonbee
Susan Pulsipher
Angela Romero
Christine F. Watkins
11
12 LONG TITLE
13 General Description:
14 This bill provides for domestic violence and lethality assessment training for law
15 enforcement officers and reporting requirements.
16 Highlighted Provisions:
17 This bill:
18 ▸ requires the Department of Public Safety and Peace Officer Standards and Training
19 create a training program for law enforcement officers in:
20 • recognizing domestic violence indicators;
21 • providing lethality assessments; and
22 • writing reports on incidents; and
23 ▸ directs the Division of Child and Family Services to work with to the Department of
24 Public Safety and the State Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice with data
25 on domestic violence for reporting to the Legislature.
26 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
27 None
28 Other Special Clauses:
29 None
30 Utah Code Sections Affected:
31 ENACTS:
32 78B-7-120, Utah Code Annotated 1953
33
34 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
35 Section 1. Section 78B-7-120 is enacted to read:
36 78B-7-120. Law enforcement -- Training -- Domestic violence -- Lethality
37 assessments.
38 (1) The Department of Public Safety shall develop training in domestic violence
39 responses and lethality assessment protocols, which include the following:
40 (a) recognizing the symptoms of domestic violence and trauma;
41 (b) an evidence-based assessment to identify victims of domestic violence who may be
42 at a high risk of being killed by a perpetrator;
43 (c) lethality assessment protocols and interviewing techniques, including indicators of
44 strangulation;
45 (d) responding to the needs and concerns of a victim of domestic violence;
46 (e) delivering services to victims of domestic violence in a compassionate, sensitive,
47 and professional manner; and
48 (f) understanding cultural perceptions and common myths of domestic violence.
49 (2) The department shall develop and offer an online training course in domestic
50 violence issues to all certified law enforcement officers in the state.
51 (3) Training in domestic violence issues shall be incorporated into training offered by
52 the Peace Officer Standards and Training division to all persons seeking certification as a peace
53 officer.
54 (4) The department shall develop specific training curriculums that meet the
55 requirements of this section, including:
56 (a) response to domestic violence incidents, including trauma-informed and
57 victim-centered interview techniques;
58 (b) lethality assessment protocols which have been demonstrated to minimize
59 retraumatizing victims; and
60 (c) standards for report writing.
61 (5) The Department of Public Safety, in partnership with the Division of Child and
62 Family Services and the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, shall work to identify
63 aggregate domestic violence data to include:
64 (a) lethality assessments;
65 (b) the prevalence of stalking;
66 (c) strangulation;
67 (d) violence in the presence of children; and
68 (e) threats of suicide or homicide.
69 (6) The Department of Public Safety, with support from the Commission on Criminal
70 and Juvenile Justice and the Division of Child and Family Services shall provide
71 recommendations to the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee not later
72 than July 31 of each year and in the commission's annual report required by Section
73 63M-7-205.