Tennessee U.S. Rep. Matt Van Epps (R-TN-07) introduced a bill Wednesday that would direct the federal government to develop a standardized lethality assessment protocol for law enforcement responding to domestic violence incidents.
Van Epps’ Screening Harm, Identifying Escalating Lethality Danger (SHIELD) For Victims Act would require the U.S. attorney general to create and publicly release a model protocol designed to help law enforcement identify domestic violence victims at risk of serious injury or death and connect them with appropriate resources.
Under the legislation, the attorney general would be required to consult relevant experts and consider best practices when developing the protocol, including a model questionnaire for officers to use when assessing risk.
The legislation would require that the model protocol is released within one year of the bill’s enactment
Van Epps’ bill would also require federal law enforcement officers covered by the legislation to receive training on the protocol through the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, with refresher training required at least once every three years.
The Tennessee congressman said domestic violence remains a significant problem and argued that law enforcement should do more to identify victims facing elevated risks.
“Nearly one in four women have experienced physical violence by an intimate partner,” Van Epps said in a statement shared exclusively with The Tennessee Star. “It is clear that more must be done to combat domestic violence. That is why I introduced the SHIELD For Victims Act.”
“I am confident that connecting domestic violence victims with resources while in the presence of law enforcement will empower them to protect themselves and their children from an abuser. Taking away an abuser’s ability to intimidate or manipulate is crucial. Domestic violence resource centers can help victims find safe housing and transportation, develop safety plans, and navigate the court system. This bill won’t just help shield victims from domestic violence; it could help them build a new life,” Van Epps added.
As detailed in a fact sheet for Van Epp’s SHIELD For Victims Act, the Lethality Assessment Program referenced in the bill is a police-led intervention developed by the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence.
The Lethality Assessment Program, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), uses an 11-question screening tool to assess a victim’s risk of being killed by an intimate partner. Victims identified as high-risk can be immediately connected with a domestic violence advocate for safety planning and referrals.
Research cited by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) found that participants in the program experienced reductions in the severity and frequency of violence and were more likely to seek help and develop safety strategies. NIJ describes the program as a “collaborative police – social service intervention with an emerging evidence base.”
Van Epps’ bill would also require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to submit a report to Congress within 180 days of enactment detailing a plan to connect federal law enforcement officers with local domestic violence response resources.
Sharon K. Roberson, president and CEO of YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee, endorsed Van Epps’ bill, saying her organization has worked with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department through its Lethality Assessment Program for more than a decade.
“This bill won’t just help shield victims from domestic violence; it could help them build a new life,” Roberson added.
Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake also commented on Van Epps’ bill, saying all Nashville police officers have been trained in the department’s lethality screening process and supported expanding the approach to federal law enforcement.
“Expanding lethality assessment protocols nationally through the SHIELD for Victims Act will help make families and communities safer,” Drake said.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Image “Rep. Matt Van Epps” by Rep. Matt Van Epps.
