A Utah law designed to protect victims of domestic violence by identifying escalating abuse and providing rapid intervention is falling short, leaving thousands deemed at high risk without immediate support. For three years, the law has mandated police officers ask 11 specific questions during calls involving intimate partner violence, then quickly involve confidential advocates when answers indicate a high danger level. However, data provided by the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition, along with interviews with advocates, reveal a significant gap: most high-risk victims are not receiving prompt assistance through the program.
Across Utah, officers are reportedly asking the required questions. Yet, over a yearlong period ending in June, domestic violence organizations received 6,458 referrals from police for victims identified as high-risk. Of these, only about 28% included a phone call from the scene to an advocate, according to the coalition. This crucial "warm handoff" call also did not happen most of the time during the program's first two years.
“It feels to me very much like a Grand Canyon-type hole of miscommunication,” said Mikaylee Sanchez Paz, intervention and prevention specialist for the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition, highlighting the breakdown in communication.
The primary reason for this gap is that the current law does not require officers to make a phone call, even though its original sponsor and supporters envisioned it as part of the process. When a call doesn't occur, organizations learn of cases through emails generated by a state portal where officers submit assessments "as soon as practicable." However, these portal entries are not required to include a phone number for survivors of abuse.
Ashley Daniels, a victim advocate at the YCC Family Crisis Center in Ogden, noted that contact information is missing from the portal entries sent to her center the vast majority of the time. Even when a number is provided, strict privacy laws limit the center’s ability to follow up. Daniels said that while data on these victims may be tracked, they are “slipping through the cracks” for advocates attempting to provide support.
Advocates fear that if victims are told they are in danger and that help is coming but never receive contact due to these communication lapses, they will be less likely to seek assistance a second time. Daniels explained this can reinforce harmful narratives from abusers, such as, “no one’s going to believe you, there’s not really help out there for you, I don’t know what you think you’re going to do, but you’re stuck.”
Some local efforts show promise. Daniels reported that the YCC Family Crisis Center coordinates daily with Ogden police officers, and the department has welcomed ongoing training from the center. Ogden Police Capt. Matt Ward emphasized that making the handoff allows officers to focus on their primary duties while ensuring victims receive long-term support from trained experts. “You don’t really become an officer to be a therapist, right? And you’re not really trained to be a therapist,” Ward stated, adding that advocates offer vital assistance whether or not a victim pursues criminal charges.
The Utah law expanded the statewide domestic violence protocol following a series of high-profile tragedies. These included the 2021 death of Gabby Petito, who was stopped by police in Moab after bystanders reported a fight with her boyfriend, and the 2022 shooting death of Mandy Mayne, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson’s cousin, in Taylorsville. Petito’s family and Henderson advocated for the protocol, stating that lethality assessments were not conducted for their loved ones, despite half of Utah’s law enforcement agencies using the tool at the time. Petito’s mother, Nichole Schmidt, told Utah News Dispatch that her family believes Gabby would still be alive if she had been asked the 11 questions, adding, “We want this to be something that prevents homicides.” Schmidt also noted that Utah lawmakers gave unanimous approval to the program in 2023, saying, “it passed so easily, and now we have to see how we can make it better.” Henderson, in a prepared statement, called the protocol “a crucial, life-saving intervention.”
Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, who sponsored the measure, recalled that the protocol in his memory demanded a phone call. He plans to speak with police chiefs and other law enforcement officials about how they connect with shelters. Weiler questioned whether the law needs to change or if increased education and compliance are sufficient, acknowledging challenges like poor cell service or officers not having department phones, as noted by Tanner Jensen, chief of investigations for the Utah Department of Public Safety. Jensen affirmed that making the call is best practice and that the Utah Department of Public Safety and the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition are working to improve training. Weiler acknowledged that the system is better than before, stating, “30% is a lot better than 0%,” but expressed a desire to see that number climb “closer to two-thirds.” He also noted that some officers may view the assessment as “more paperwork and more busywork,” rather than essential work.
The protocol has, however, brought positive changes, including giving officers quick access to a suspect’s comprehensive criminal history. Jensen confirmed that Utah’s Statewide Information and Analysis Center can provide this detailed information within 15 minutes of a request, which can help police make informed decisions rapidly.
