Public Safety - Lethality Assessment Protocol

HB 810 requires all Maryland law enforcement agencies to adopt a policy mandating the use of a lethality assessment protocol during investigations of domestic violence incidents. The protocol is a research-backed tool that uses specific questions to assess an individual’s risk of serious harm or death from an intimate partner, and it must include connecting victims to local support services. This bill directly affects police departments statewide, requiring them to standardize how they respond to domestic violence calls starting October 1, 2025. It focuses on proactive risk assessment during domestic violence investigations, not criminal penalties or new victim protections.