Policy Text
Page 1 of 7 General Order 06-31 (01/19/24 )
LETHALITY ASSESSMENT PROTOCOL
RICHMOND POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
Subject: LETHALITY ASSESSMENT PROTOCOL
Chapter
6 Number
31 Pages
7
CALEA Standards: 55.1.1, 55.1.3 , 55.2.1, 55.2.2, 55.2.3
VA Code: § 18.2-57, 18.2-57.2, 18.2-60, 19.2-11.2
Related Orders: 6-9 Effective Dat e: 01/19/2024
Revised By : Review
Prv. Rev. Date : 11/18/2020
Chief of Police :
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this directive is to define intimate partner violence , prescribe measures to protect
victims and identify those who may be at greater risk of a lethal d omestic encounter .
II. SUMMARY OF CHANGE
This policy i s due for r eview. All changes will be notated in bold and italic ized throughout
the document .
III. POLICY
It is the policy of the Richmond Police Department to thoroughly investigate complaints of
intimate partner violence. Officers shall convey the attitude that violence among intimate
partners is criminal behavior and will not be tolerated . The intent of the law and departmental
procedures are to protect the health and safety of people involved in abusive i ntimate
relationships . With all due consideration for their own safety, Department personnel
responding to a violen t incident call among intimate partners shall: (1) restore order; (2) arrest
persons when probable cause exists that a crime has occurred; (3 ) provide safety and security
for the crime victim(s); (4) provide the victim with community and legal resources ]; and (5)
help participants contact appropriate agencies to help prevent future occurrences. To that end,
a Lethality Assessment Screen should be conducted to identify persons at risk of being killed
by an intimate partner . [CALEA 55.2.1 , 55.1.3]
IV. ACCOUNTABILITY STATEMENT
All employees are expected to fully comply w ith the guidelines and timelines set forth in this
general order. Responsibility rests with the Division Commander to ensure that any violations
of policy are investigated and appropriate training, counseling and/or disciplinary action is
initiated.
Page 2 of 7 General Order 06-31 (01/19/24 )
LETHALITY ASSESSMENT PROTOCOL This d irective is for internal use only, and does not enlarge an employee’s civil liability in any
way. It should not be construed as the creation of a higher standard of safety or care in an
evidentiary sense, with respect to third party claims . Violation of th is directive, if proven, can
only form the basis of a complaint by this Department, and then only in a non -judicial
administrative setting.
V. DEFINITION
A. ASSAULT – See Virginia Code §18.2-57 and 18.2 -57.2 (“Assault and Battery against a
Family or Household Me mber”) . A related matter, §18.2 -60 criminalizes the sending of
letters or text messages to anyone threatening death or injury (Class 6 felony) . A
Magistrate issuing a warrant for violation of §18.2 -57.2 shall also issue an emergency
protective order.
B. ABUSE R – A person who perpetrates a pattern of coercive tactics which can include
physical, psychological, sexual, economic, and emotional abuse against an intimate
partner, with the goal of establishing and maintaining power and control over the
victim.
C. DOMEST IC VIOLENCE/ABUSE – Domestic violence is a pattern of coercive
behavior characterized by the domination and control of one person over another,
usually an intimate partner, through physical, psychological, emotional, verbal, sexual,
and/or economic abuse . Domestic violence is often called “domestic abuse” because it
does not necessarily involve physical violence, and some of the tactics may not even be
considered a crime.
D. HIGH -DANGER – A term used for a victim who has been assessed through use of the
Letha lity Assessment Screen (PD-177) as being at the greatest risk of being killed. The
victim is said to be at “High -Danger.”
E. INTIMATE RELATIONSHI P – An “intimate relationship” is one in which
heterosexual or homosexual partners have, or have had, a sexual or emotionally
intimate relationship.
F. INTIMATE PARTNERS – Persons who are, or have been involved, in an intimate
relationship who:
1. Are married, separated, or divorced;
2. Live or have lived together;
3. Have children in common; or,
4. Date, or have dated, but do not l ive, or never have lived together.
G. LETHALITY ASSESSMENT PROTOCOL (LAP) – The LAP is a multi -pronged
intervention that consists of a standardized, evidence -based lethality assessment
instrument and accompanying referral protocol that helps first responders make a
differentiated response that is tailored to the unique circumstances of High -Danger
victims .
Page 3 of 7 General Order 06-31 (01/19/24 )
LETHALITY ASSESSMENT PROTOCOL H. LETHALITY ASSESSMENT