• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Subscribe to the Magazine
American Police Beat

American Police Beat Magazine

Law Enforcement Publication

  • Home
  • Editor’s Picks
    • Seeking the right kind of help
      “Why does that call keep haunting me?”
      Mentoring: Leave ’em better than you found ’em
      A message to those considering suicide
      The power of teamwork
  • Topics
    • On the Job
      • California deputies rescue teen dangling 700 feet in the air after...
        Washington deputy rescues injured dog from drainpipe
        “Wow, our career together is over”: Missouri police department...
        Heroic Pennsylvania officer saves father and daughter from drowning...
        Denver law enforcement struggle to divert low-level offenders to...
    • Labor
      • San Francisco “workhorse” deputy earns millions in overtime pay...
        “A financial tsunami”
        LAPD officers receive raises, bonuses
        Minnesota police force faces disbandment as chief resigns amid salary...
        We quit!
    • Tech
      • The rise of I2P
        Ann Arbor Police Department adopts AI technology to analyze body...
        Ohio law enforcement adopts powerful ballistics technology to combat...
        AI-powered surveillance program raises concerns over privacy rights...
        Chesterfield County announces real-time crime center to enhance...
    • Training
      • Investigating “swatting” incidents
        Leaders take note: A handwritten note goes a long way
        CIT training is not for everyone
        Mentoring: Leave ’em better than you found ’em
        Ohio struggles to secure permanent funding for law enforcement...
    • Policy
      • Texas enacts stricter laws to combat illegal street racing and...
        New Mexico Supreme Court clarifies police authority to question...
        New Texas law gives local law enforcement greater control over...
        Diversity in law enforcement
        Florida attorney general and John Walsh partner in new Crime Stoppers...
    • Health/Wellness
      • The emotional rucksack
        What threat does to the brain
        Seeking the right kind of help
        Working through grief
        Responding to trauma
    • Community
      • Florida police department launches SPORTS initiative to build...
        Naperville police officer inspires generations of kids through reading
        Stockton P.D. launches Your Way Registry Program to protect...
        Committing to outreach
        Scam callers pose as law enforcement to trick victims into paying for...
    • Offbeat
      • “It’s time to dive in”: Shaquille O’Neal joins forces with...
        “This little piggy didn’t make it to the market”:
        Seattle police find burglary suspect guzzling gasoline in victim’s...
        Univision Chicago TV crew reporting on armed robberies held at...
        California Highway Patrol arrests man on horseback for DUI
    • We Remember
      • Headstone finally marks grave of Pennsylvania officer who gave his...
        Memorial for the fallen: The sacrifice continues
        Paying Tribute to the Fallen Heroes of 9/11
        “He was like a protector …”: Genesee County sheriff’s deputy...
        Deadly police pursuit claims life of 19-year-old Vermont police...
  • On the Job
    • California deputies rescue teen dangling 700 feet in the air after...
      Washington deputy rescues injured dog from drainpipe
      “Wow, our career together is over”: Missouri police department...
      Heroic Pennsylvania officer saves father and daughter from drowning...
      Denver law enforcement struggle to divert low-level offenders to...
  • Labor
    • San Francisco “workhorse” deputy earns millions in overtime pay...
      “A financial tsunami”
      LAPD officers receive raises, bonuses
      Minnesota police force faces disbandment as chief resigns amid salary...
      We quit!
  • Tech
    • The rise of I2P
      Ann Arbor Police Department adopts AI technology to analyze body...
      Ohio law enforcement adopts powerful ballistics technology to combat...
      AI-powered surveillance program raises concerns over privacy rights...
      Chesterfield County announces real-time crime center to enhance...
  • Training
    • Investigating “swatting” incidents
      Leaders take note: A handwritten note goes a long way
      CIT training is not for everyone
      Mentoring: Leave ’em better than you found ’em
      Ohio struggles to secure permanent funding for law enforcement...
  • Policy
    • Texas enacts stricter laws to combat illegal street racing and...
      New Mexico Supreme Court clarifies police authority to question...
      New Texas law gives local law enforcement greater control over...
      Diversity in law enforcement
      Florida attorney general and John Walsh partner in new Crime Stoppers...
  • Health/Wellness
    • The emotional rucksack
      What threat does to the brain
      Seeking the right kind of help
      Working through grief
      Responding to trauma
  • Community
    • Florida police department launches SPORTS initiative to build...
      Naperville police officer inspires generations of kids through reading
      Stockton P.D. launches Your Way Registry Program to protect...
      Committing to outreach
      Scam callers pose as law enforcement to trick victims into paying for...
  • Offbeat
    • “It’s time to dive in”: Shaquille O’Neal joins forces with...
      “This little piggy didn’t make it to the market”:
      Seattle police find burglary suspect guzzling gasoline in victim’s...
      Univision Chicago TV crew reporting on armed robberies held at...
      California Highway Patrol arrests man on horseback for DUI
  • We Remember
    • Headstone finally marks grave of Pennsylvania officer who gave his...
      Memorial for the fallen: The sacrifice continues
      Paying Tribute to the Fallen Heroes of 9/11
      “He was like a protector …”: Genesee County sheriff’s deputy...
      Deadly police pursuit claims life of 19-year-old Vermont police...
  • Between the Lines
    • Debunking the perpetual narrative of racial bias in policing
      The unspoken truth behind the recruitment and retention crisis
      The police reform goal: use of force without options
      The imprisonment of law enforcement technology
      Persecution of the LEO is classic schadenfreude
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Search

Policy

Utah law enforcement implements lethality assessment protocol to combat domestic violence

APB Team Published July 13, 2023 @ 6:00 am PDT

iStock.com/solidcoulours

Utah law enforcement officials are praising the statewide implementation of a new program aimed at combating domestic violence.

Spearheaded by the Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson, the initiative mandates the use of a lethality assessment protocol, which allows law enforcement officers to identify victims of domestic violence who are at the highest risk of severe injury or death at the hands of their intimate partners.

Previously, Utah law enforcement agencies were not required to utilize such protocols when responding to domestic violence calls. However, the passing of SB 117 earlier this year unanimously by the Utah Legislature marked a turning point.

Now, the lethality assessment can be used at the scene of any intimate partner violence incident and requires data collection and analysis at the Statewide Information and Analysis Center. Additionally, relevant information regarding offenders must now be made available to law enforcement officers on the scene.

The motivation behind the program was personal for Henderson, after her cousin Amanda “Mandy” Mayne was tragically killed by her ex-husband in August 2022.

“It was pretty clear that there were warning signs … They didn’t get caught because, largely, law enforcement was operating in silos … We worked really hard to assess the root of the problem because I knew that this was not just my family’s problem,” Henderson reflected.

The pilot program, which launched in May 2023, received participation from 58 agencies and resulted in 206 completed assessments. Of these assessments, approximately 128 revealed that a victim was in a potentially lethal situation.

Alarming red flags identified by the program included an aggressor’s attempt to purchase a firearm and an aggressor, who had previously been identified as a homicide suspect in a domestic violence case.

To further enhance the implementation of the program, a mobile app will be developed for law enforcement officers, making it easier for them to utilize the lethality assessment protocol. The release of this app is scheduled for August, following the statewide implementation in July.

DPS Commissioner Jess Anderson was optimistic about the program.

“This tool implemented for the state of Utah, for law enforcement … will improve victims’ ability to get the help that they need and protect lives and save lives, and we’re already seeing that,” Anderson said in a statement.

While the lethality assessment protocol and program are significant steps forward in addressing domestic violence statewide, there are concerns about the limited resources available to meet the increasing need.

Domestic violence advocates and providers continue to face funding challenges, despite the historic investment of $30 million in victim services made during the recent legislative session.

“We’re so grateful for the legislative appropriation that helps to make up a little bit of that difference but still see an overall decrease in our funds. We know those referrals from law enforcement for the LAP are so needed and so needed for the survivors. But it is so difficult when we don’t have the funds,” said Ashlee Taylor, executive director of the Refuge Utah.

According to Taylor, Refuge Utah received approximately 3,000 hotline calls and had to turn away around 480 requests for shelter due to capacity limitations last year.

“We know that we have a need for larger shelter. We’ve been really focused on that and trying to move forward in a plan to be able to build a new shelter that can meet the capacity and the need in our county. But it’s really difficult when we’re just trying to keep status quo with our budgets being cut,” Taylor said.

Categories: Policy Tags: database, legislation, initiative, Utah, domestic violence, DPS, lethality assessment, Deidre Henderson, mobile app, Law Enforcement

Primary Sidebar

Recent Articles

  • California deputies rescue teen dangling 700 feet in the air after botched stunt on state’s highest bridge
  • Washington deputy rescues injured dog from drainpipe
  • “It’s time to dive in”: Shaquille O’Neal joins forces with Los Angeles Port Police Department in recruitment drive
  • “This little piggy didn’t make it to the market”:
  • Florida police department launches SPORTS initiative to build positive community relationships
  • Seattle police find burglary suspect guzzling gasoline in victim’s garage
  • The emotional rucksack
  • Naperville police officer inspires generations of kids through reading
  • “Wow, our career together is over”: Missouri police department bids farewell to retiring K-9 Tank
  • Investigating “swatting” incidents

Footer

Our Mission
To serve as a trusted voice of the nation’s law enforcement community, providing informative, entertaining and inspiring content on interesting and engaging topics affecting peace officers today.

Contact us: info@apbweb.com | (800) 234-0056.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Categories

  • Editor’s Picks
  • On the Job
  • Labor
  • Tech
  • Training
  • Policy
  • Health/Wellness
  • Community
  • Offbeat
  • We Remember
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Events

Editor’s Picks

Seeking the right kind of help

Seeking the right kind of help

September 26, 2023

“Why does that call keep haunting me?”

“Why does that call keep haunting me?”

September 20, 2023

Mentoring: Leave ’em better than you found ’em

Mentoring: Leave ’em better than you found ’em

September 19, 2023

A message to those considering suicide

A message to those considering suicide

September 18, 2023

Privacy Policy | Your Privacy Options | Notice at Collection | Copyright © 2023 APB Media, LLC | Website design, development and maintenance by 911MEDIA

Open

Subscribe

Close

Receive the latest news and updates from American Police Beat directly to your inbox!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.