TRENTON – The Senate approved legislation sponsored by Senators Vin Gopal and Troy Singleton that would require law enforcement officers to conduct a standardized risk assessment of domestic violence victims and provide immediate assistance to those identified as being at elevated risk of serious harm.

The bill, S-2051, is part of a broader effort to improve early intervention, strengthen victim protections, and prevent future tragedies.

Senator Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth) stated, “This legislation ensures law enforcement has the tools, training, and responsibility to assess risk and connect high-risk individuals with the needed help. It’s a commonsense step to save lives and make our response to domestic violence more proactive and effective.”

Under the bill, when a law enforcement officer has reasonable cause to believe someone is a victim of domestic violence, the officer would be required to conduct a risk assessment using a standardized, evidence-based tool known as an Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA), which is approved by the Attorney General. With the victim’s consent, the evaluation would collect key information about recent acts of violence, any injuries sustained, and whether weapons or threats were involved. The tool would then generate a risk score to determine the likelihood of future serious injury or death. If an elevated threat is indicated, the officer must notify the victim of their risk level and, with their consent, connect them with immediate services such as a domestic violence crisis team or other community-based support.

“Domestic violence is a danger that demands immediate and informed action. This bill gives law enforcement a critical tool to identify those at greatest risk and intervene before tragedy strikes,” said Senator Troy Singleton (D-Burlington.) “By requiring standardized risk assessments and connecting victims with support right away, we’re closing dangerous gaps in our system and putting safety and prevention first. Every step we take toward early intervention is a step toward saving lives.”

The Attorney General would also be required to update training protocols for officers, ensuring they are adequately equipped to administer the assessment and respond to high-risk situations. Additionally, the Administrative Director of the Courts would be tasked with developing judicial training related to the evaluation, and judges would be required to consider the risk score when making pretrial release decisions in domestic violence cases.

According to national data, about 10 million people experience domestic violence in the U.S. each year, and intimate partner violence is a leading cause of homicide among women. In New Jersey, police reported over 63,000 domestic violence offenses in 2020 alone, including 29 domestic violence-related homicides. Tools like ODARA are designed to help identify individuals at the highest risk and ensure data and best practices guide law enforcement responses.

The bill passed in an 39-0 vote.

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