CHARLOTTESVILLE (WSLS 10) - Agencies are learning about Lethality Assessment Protocol to help reduce likelihood of domestic homicides.
As part of the lethality assessment protocol, first responders are trained to use a standardized set of 11 questions that can predict if a victim is at risk of further harm.
Recommended Videos
The Franklin County Sheriff's department is learning about the program in a training conference in Charlottesville.
Sgt. Ken Holland says he's seen the impact of domestic violence first hand.
"I've seen people that have been hurt physically the emotional scars are just something you care with you," says Holland.
Holland is one of more than 125 people from across the state learning about LAP.
LAP helps first responders identify domestic violence situations that may become fatal for a victim.
Katrina Hancock with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office says domestic violence isn't necessarily a growing problem but hoping to see fewer cases of it through this training.
"I think with this training the interest is there are so many victims are faced with homicide and have risk factors so in order to get more information out to them and help save their lives then this training is very important for us," says Hancock.
It may take a few years to see how much this program is helping local agencies here but it does work.
The Attorney General is modeling it after Maryland which saw successes after implementing the protocol.
"Maryland has been doing lethality assessment protocol for a number of years now and in a five year period they showed a 34% drop in domestic homicides," says Herring.
Agencies like Franklin county say they're going back and educating their staff on what they learned this week.