This bill requires law enforcement officers to conduct a domestic violence risk assessment for individuals suspected of being victims of domestic violence, contingent upon the victim's consent. The assessment will utilize the Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA) instrument unless an alternative is approved by the Attorney General. Officers are mandated to provide immediate assistance to victims identified as being at elevated risk and must include specific information in the assessment, such as recent acts of violence and injuries sustained. Furthermore, the bill ensures that the results of these assessments are presented to the court during pretrial hearings, allowing judges to consider this information when making decisions about pretrial release or detention.

In addition to the assessment requirements, the bill amends existing laws to enhance training for law enforcement and judicial personnel on the new risk assessment procedures. The Director of the Division of Criminal Justice is tasked with developing training courses related to these assessments, which all relevant personnel must complete. The bill emphasizes the importance of integrating the risk assessment into the existing domestic violence training curriculum and mandates that judges take the results of the assessments into account during pretrial proceedings.

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