Domestic violence deaths drop in Colorado, returning to pre-pandemic level

(The Center Square) – Domestic violence-related fatalities dropped in Colorado last year, accounting for 11% of the state’s homicides, according to a report from the Colorado Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board released this week.

The report found that the state had 58 domestic violence deaths last year, a decrease compared to the previous two years but on par with the state’s pre-pandemic numbers.

The board looked at 47 domestic violence fatality cases from 2023. It found that either current or former intimate partners killed 30, while seven more victims, known as collateral victims, also died; more than half of these collateral victims were children.

“Even as we see a decrease in domestic violence fatalities, we cannot be complacent,” Attorney General Phil Weiser, who also chairs the board, said in a statement. “Every life lost is a tragedy, and we must continue our efforts to combat domestic violence with a sense of urgency. It is imperative that we work together to create safer communities and support those affected by this violence.”

Most domestic violence fatality perpetrators were male, and they used firearms to kill their victims. Notably, the report this year found that rural counties saw higher rates of domestic violence fatalities than urban areas.

It also marked the first time that the board tracked whether or not those involved in these cases had domestic violence protection orders; about one-fifth had either active or expired protection orders, but only one had an active order at the time of the fatality.

“This data suggests the limited involvement of the civil legal system among domestic violence fatality victims in these cases, but also that protection orders have a potentially important protective function, especially when they are active,” the release said. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation blocked the purchase of hundreds of firearms by people restricted by protective orders in 2023.

The board offered these recommendations to better protect domestic violence victims, according to the release:

Enhance training for court professionals: Develop comprehensive domestic violence training for Child and Family Investigators and Parental Responsibility Evaluators that addresses risk factors, coercive control, and compassion fatigue.Expand use of risk assessment tools: Increase the use of risk assessment tools in organizations and systems that work directly with domestic violence survivors, including the increased use of the Lethality Assessment Protocol in law enforcement settings.Implement victim notification system: Establish a system to notify domestic violence victims when the subject of a protection order attempts to purchase a firearm, improving their ability to assess risk and enhance safety planning.Address economic abuse and coerced debt: Provide more protection for domestic violence victims of economic abuse, including coerced debt, to ensure financial control and exploitation do not prevent survivors from escaping abusive relationships.

Here are some of the other report’s findings, according to the release:

The ages of victims ranged from 14 to 70, with perpetrators between 15 and 81 years old, demonstrating that domestic violence affects individuals across all life stages, including young populations.Pregnancy, particularly among adolescent girls, was identified as a significant risk factor for domestic violence fatalities, highlighting the vulnerability of this group and the need for enhanced protections.

“I am proud of the work we do on the Colorado Fatality Review Board and all review boards around the state and nation. We know these are some of the most preventable crimes. Domestic violence fatality review boards play such a critical role in preventing future deaths. We continue to learn, modify, and improve responses based on these fatalities, creating more advanced and effective interventions each year,” Carmen Lewis, executive director of Rise Above Violence in Pagosa Springs and a board member, said.

The Colorado General Assembly created the board seven years ago to review domestic violence fatality data, find ways to prevent such deaths and make policy recommendations to the state legislature.

Permanent protection orders are associated with an 80% reduction in physical violence the year after being granted, according to a study from Penn State.

The annual report, plus a list of domestic violence resources, is on the Colorado Department of Law website.