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Florida lawmakers are aiming to bolster protections for victims of domestic violence with the recent passage of the Gabby Petito Act.
The tragic death of 22-year-old Petito at the hands of her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, in Wyoming in 2021 garnered significant national attention. Petito’s parents have since become vocal advocates for domestic violence prevention and have pursued legal action against parties they believe were negligent in addressing the signs of domestic violence leading up to her death.
The new legislation — in the state where Petito lived with Laundrie and his parents before the cross-country road trip on which she was killed — was advocated for by her father, Joseph Petito. It would ensure that law enforcement officers are equipped to assess the level of danger during domestic violence calls and provide appropriate assistance to victims.
Officially known as Senate Bill 1224, the legislation introduces a set of 12 mandatory questions that law enforcement officers must ask potential victims when responding to domestic violence calls. These questions, referred to as a “lethality assessment,” are designed to better gauge the level of risk faced by victims and provide them with necessary support. Some of the key questions include inquiries about the aggressor’s use of weapons, threats of violence, history of choking, access to firearms and controlling behaviors. The assessment was developed in 2003 by the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence and has been adopted by 32 states so far.
Joseph Petito discussed the importance of this legislation during his appearance before the Florida Senate Committee on criminal justice, stressing that the assessment program outlined in the bill could potentially save lives, especially in situations where victims may not fully comprehend the danger they are facing.
“It’s to make sure people know where to go when these questions are asked,” Petito explained. “They can answer ‘no’ to all the questions, but an officer’s intuition might tell them they’re still in a bad situation and say, ‘Let me get this advocate on the line.’ Most people don’t know where to go when it comes to services and what services they have at their disposal.”
The bill also mandates that law enforcement officers advise victims of the results of the assessment and refer them to the nearest certified domestic violence shelter if certain criteria are met. Additionally, officers are required to make written police reports indicating incidents of domestic violence, regardless of whether an arrest is made. These reports will be filed with law enforcement agencies to compile data on domestic violence cases.
Legislators lauded the Gabby Petito Act as a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to combat domestic violence in Florida. The bill, introduced by Senator Colleen Burton and co-sponsored by Senator Erin Grall, received unanimous support from lawmakers and now awaits Governor Ron DeSantis’ signature. If signed into law, the legislation will take effect on July 1, 2024.
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