2026 Conference on Violent Crime

Based on the “Maryland Model” and the research by Dr. Jacquelyn Campbell, Virginia’s Lethality Assessment Program (LAP) is an innovative strategy to prevent Intimate Partner Violence homicides and serious injuries. Using an 11-question, evidence-based Lethality Assessment field tool, law enforcement can assess the risk of serious injury or homicide by an intimate partner and immediately connect the victim, via a hotline call, to the local domestic violence service program (DVSP) for emergency safety planning and enhanced service provision. This session will provide an overview of LAP and its implementation throughout the Commonwealth since 2015.

This presentation reviews key legal updates from the Virginia General Assembly that affect law enforcement, Departments of Corrections (DOC), and Departments of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). This session highlights new laws, focusing on the practical implications of these updates and how agencies can maintain compliance with current legal standards.