Florida lawmakers pass Gabby Petito-inspired domestic violence bill
Florida lawmakers on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill to benefit victims of domestic violence, sending the legislation — which includes language pushed for by Gabby Petito’s family — to Gov. Ron DeSantis for approval.
The Protection of Children and Victims of Crime bill, which includes wording the slain 22-year-old’s father Joe Petito fiercely advocated for, would create a set of 12 mandatory questions for law enforcement to ask a potential victim when responding to a domestic violence call, Fox 13 News reported.
Petito said his family was “thrilled” that Florida passed the bill, which features protocols already in place in 32 other states.
“It’s a significant milestone in the fight against domestic violence and a testament to the dedication and hard work of everyone involved. This achievement brings hope and protection to survivors, ensuring their safety and well-being,” Petito said.
Senate Bill 1224 would require law enforcement to assess domestic violence cases by asking 12 questions:
- Did the aggressor ever use a weapon against you or threaten you with a weapon?
- Did the aggressor ever threaten to kill you or your children?
- Do you believe the aggressor will try to kill you?
- Has the aggressor ever choked you or attempted to choke you?
- Does the aggressor have a gun or could the aggressor easily obtain a gun?
- Is the aggressor violently or constantly jealous, or does the aggressor control most of your daily activities?
- Did you leave or separate from the aggressor after you were living together or married?
- Is the aggressor unemployed?
- To the best of your knowledge, has the aggressor ever attempted suicide?
- Do you have a child whom the aggressor believes is not the aggressor’s biological child?
- Has the aggressor ever followed, spied on, or left threatening messages for you?
- Is there anything else that worries you about your safety and, if so, what worries you?
The protocol would mandate law enforcement to direct the victim to the nearest certified domestic violence shelter if they answer yes to any of the first four questions, or if they answer no to the first four questions but yes to at least four of questions five through 11.
Authorities must also make documentation in a police report if the victim doesn’t — or is unable to — answer the questions. They must then refer the victim to a domestic violence shelter and are prohibited from disclosing the shelter in the report.
In January, Joe Petito championed the new rules before the Florida Senate Committee on Criminal Justice, telling lawmakers it would save lives — especially in instances similar to Gabby’s, where a victim may not appreciate or be willing to admit they are in danger.
“They can answer ‘no’ to all the questions, but an officer’s intuition might tell them they’re still in a bad situation and say, ‘Let me get this advocate on the line.’
“Most people don’t know where to go when it comes to services and what services they have at their disposal,” Petito said.
“Not everybody needs a shelter. Not everybody needs financial guidance or a pro bono lawyer, but they do need to know how to get out of a situation safely,” he added.
Gabby Petito was killed by her boyfriend Brian Laundrie in August 2021 while the two were traveling throughout the country in their van.
Her strangled remains were found on Sept. 19. Laundrie later died by suicide.
The bill now heads to DeSantis, and if signed, would go into effect on July 1.
