About 200 people die from domestic violence in Florida each year, according to data from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
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A new Florida law changes that. It requires law enforcement to ask a list of questions to the victim at any domestic violence call.
The “lethality assessment” rates if a victim is at high risk of being harmed or even killed by their abuser.
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Several advocates have spoke out in favor of the bill in January, including the father of Gabby Petito. He spoke in Tallahassee about the need for this legislation in January.
“We all have friends, family, children we want here tomorrow. That’s what these questions would do,” Joseph Petito said.
Not long before her death, police in Utah were called to a reported domestic disturbance involving Petito and her fiancé. Gabby’s parents have said police ignored evidence her fiancé was abusing her. Law enforcement let Gabby and her fiancé leave, despite Gabby having visible bruises.