Oct. 17, 2016
HARRISBURG – Rep. Kate Klunk (R-York) introduced legislation that would require minimum standards of training for local and state police officers when responding to domestic violence calls, and would establish the Police Department Grant Program to offset the cost of training and equipment costs incurred by police departments.
“This legislation is the result of a tragic event. On May 29, 2015, Barbara Schrum escorted her friend, Laurie Kuykendall, to retrieve belongings from Laurie’s former home in York County. Unfortunately, the two women were killed by Laurie’s estranged husband,” Klunk said. “As such, this legislation, which would prevent further senseless deaths, will be called ‘Laurie’s and Barbara’s Law.’”
The legislation,
House Bill 2288, calls for police officer training that includes standards for assessing the lethality risk of domestic violence incidents. Lethality assessment is a highly effective method for law enforcement to identify victims of domestic violence who are at the highest risk of being seriously injured or killed by their intimate partners.
The program asks a series of questions, which can indicate an increased risk for homicide. If there is an elevated risk, the responding officer would call a local 24-hour domestic violence hotline to seek advice and would then encourage the victim to speak with the specially trained hotline advocate.
Because cellphones are needed for police departments to implement the Lethality Assessment Program and not all departments have cellphones, this legislation will also establish the Police Department Grant Program, which will be administered by the Center for Local Government Services within the state Department of Community and Economic Development. Police departments may apply for grant funding to cover costs associated with domestic violence response training and other equipment used during incidents of domestic violence.
“Since their tragic deaths, the families of Laurie and Barbara have worked tirelessly advocating for the Lethality Assessment Program to be implemented in Pennsylvania. Introducing this bill is just a small step in the families’ fight to prevent additional domestic violence-related deaths and injuries,” Klunk said. “This important legislation would not only save lives of domestic violence victims, but would also give our local and state police the tools they need to cut down on repeated domestic violence calls.”
Representative Kate A. Klunk
169th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Greg Gross
717.260.6374
ggross@pahousegop.com
RepKlunk.com /
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