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HB 1009

Colorado Mandatory Lethality Assessment Act

2026 Regular Session

HB 1009 mandates Colorado law enforcement conduct standardized lethality assessments in domestic violence cases to identify high-risk situations and prevent homicides.

Governor Signed
#crimes #corrections #&enforcement
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Bill Summary · HB 1009

Legislative bill overview

HB 1009 would establish a mandatory lethality assessment protocol in Colorado, requiring law enforcement and potentially other agencies to conduct standardized risk evaluations in domestic violence cases to identify situations with the highest danger of homicide. The bill appears to mandate use of evidence-based assessment tools to systematically evaluate threat factors and determine appropriate intervention levels.

Why is this important

Domestic violence homicides represent a significant portion of all murders in the U.S., and research shows that structured lethality assessments can identify high-risk cases before fatal incidents occur. Implementation could improve resource allocation, inform victim safety planning, and potentially guide decisions about protective orders and arrest protocols—directly affecting public safety outcomes in intimate partner violence cases.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs and resource burden: Mandatory assessments require training officers, developing protocols, and potentially adding staff—raising questions about funding and feasibility across diverse-sized jurisdictions
  • Predictive accuracy and liability concerns: Lethality assessment tools have varying accuracy rates; false negatives could expose agencies to liability while false positives raise civil rights questions about discriminatory enforcement
  • Privacy and data management: Standardized assessments create databases of risk information; concerns exist around data security, access, retention, and potential misuse of sensitive domestic information
  • One-size-fits-all concerns: Mandatory protocols may not account for cultural contexts, diverse victim circumstances, or cases where assessments could inadvertently increase danger for some victims

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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