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Abstract: 

Two bills were filed recently in the Florida legislature and one bill was enacted into law in Utah as a response to the 2021 murder of 22-year-old Gabby Petito allegedly by her boyfriend Brian Laundrie. This article reviews the main provisions of the legislation, which may serve as models for similar measures across the nation. Of particular note, the Florida bills mandate performance of lethality assessments based on Jacqueline Campbell’s scholarly research, and require police departments to consult with specified entities on the policies, procedures, and training necessary to implement the use of the lethality form. The Utah law, enacted in 2023, requires all police agencies in Utah to conduct lethality assessments and standardizes how Utah law enforcement interact with DV victims.

Keywords: Gabby Petito Act (FL-SB 610); Utah SB 117; Lethality Assessments

Affiliations:  1: Editor.