Existing law requires a peace officer investigating an act of domestic violence to provide certain information to a person suspected of being a victim of an act of domestic violence. (NRS 171.1225) Section 2 of this bill requires a peace officer investigating an act of domestic violence to complete a lethality assessment form for a person suspected of being a victim of an act of domestic violence if the peace officer has probable cause to believe that the person believed to have committed the act of domestic violence is: (1) his or her spouse or former spouse; (2) a person with whom he or she had or is having a dating relationship; or (3) a person with whom he or she has a child in common. Section 2 also requires a peace officer who completes a lethality assessment form to submit the results of the lethality assessment to the Department of Public Safety while at the scene of the investigation or as soon as practicable after leaving the scene. Section 1 of this bill requires a peace officer who completes a lethality assessment form to take certain actions based upon the results of the lethality assessment. Section 1 also: (1) requires the Director of the Department to prescribe the form on which the results of a lethality assessment conducted pursuant to section 2 must be submitted; and (2) sets forth certain requirements for the form. Finally, section 1 requires the: (1) Department to provide certain supportive services and develop certain training relating to lethality assessments; and (2) Administrative Office of the Courts to make the training available to certain persons who have regular and routine contact with the results of lethality assessments. Existing law requires a peace officer who investigates an act of domestic violence to prepare and submit to certain persons a written report of the investigation. (NRS 171.1227) Section 3 of this bill requires a peace officer who investigates an act of domestic violence to include in the written report of the investigation the results of a lethality assessment conducted pursuant to section 2. Existing law requires a court to consider certain factors in reviewing the custody status of a person. (NRS 178.4853) Section 4 of this bill authorizes the court to include the results of a lethality assessment when considering these factors.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 171.1225, 171.1227, 178.4853
BDR: 171.1225, 171.1227, 178.4853