B 1331 expands law enforcement training in domestic violence cases
SACRAMENTO — Legislation by State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) to help identify domestic violence victims whose lives are in danger and connect them with support services, passed off the Senate Floor today with unanimous bipartisan support.
Senate Bill 1331 expands law enforcement training to include a domestic violence lethality assessment, which is a series of evidence-based questions officers can use when responding to domestic violence calls to assess the potential for homicide, serious injury, or re-assault. In situations that are deemed high-risk, the victim is automatically connected with local support services.
The lethality assessment is based on research by Dr. Jacquelyn Campbell of The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, which showed women killed by intimate partners seldom accessed domestic violence program services.
“The statistics are alarming. Three women are murdered every day in the U.S. by an intimate partner. Worldwide, 38% of women’s homicides are committed by an intimate partner. We have to do more to help victims of domestic violence access the tools they need to safely leave their partner,” said Senator Jackson. “SB 1331 will save lives by training law enforcement officers how to identify victims in serious risk of harm and connect them with community-based services.”
Senate Bill 1331 now heads to the State Assembly.
Jackson represents the 19th Senate District, which includes all of Santa Barbara County and western Ventura County.