This bill establishes a requirement for law enforcement officers to conduct a domestic violence risk assessment for individuals they suspect may be victims of domestic violence, contingent upon the individual's consent. The assessment will utilize the Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA) as the standard tool, unless an alternative is approved by the Attorney General. Officers are mandated to inform victims about the assessment's purpose and how their information will be managed. If the assessment indicates a high risk of serious bodily injury or death, officers must notify the victim and, with their consent, facilitate immediate assistance through domestic crisis teams or other services.

Furthermore, the bill amends existing laws to enhance training for law enforcement and judicial personnel regarding the new risk assessment procedures. The Director of the Division of Criminal Justice is responsible for developing training courses on these assessments, while the Administrative Director of the Courts will ensure judges receive training on domestic violence dynamics and the implications of risk assessments in pretrial decisions. The bill also requires that courts consider the results of domestic violence risk assessments in conjunction with pretrial risk assessments when making release decisions for defendants involved in domestic violence cases.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2C:25-20, 2A:162-25, 2A:162-20