The latest report from Colorado’s Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board highlights a disturbing surge in deaths, reaching 72 fatalities in 2024—a 24% increase from the previous year. This escalating crisis, profoundly impacted by firearm access and the lingering effects of the pandemic, underscores urgent calls for enhanced policy, enforcement, and community support to protect vulnerable adults and child survivors.
Domestic violence fatalities in Colorado continue on a disturbing upward trajectory, with the latest report from the Colorado Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board revealing a significant surge in deaths. In 2024 alone, the state recorded 72 deaths across 54 domestic violence fatality cases, marking a 24% increase from the previous year. This alarming statistic, along with recurring patterns of firearm use and the tragic involvement of children, emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive intervention and prevention strategies across the state.
According to the report, eight of the 72 deaths in 2024 were classified as “collateral victims,” all of whom were children ranging in age from three months to seven years old. Every single one of these child fatalities involved firearms, a detail that has prompted strong calls for more stringent gun regulations from Attorney General Phil Weiser, who chairs the review board. Weiser stressed that domestic violence is “not only a crisis between partners — it’s tearing families apart and claiming young lives,” advocating for stronger firearm safeguards and better coordination across judicial and law enforcement systems.
A Disturbing Historical Arc: Tracing Colorado’s Domestic Violence Fatalities
The Colorado General Assembly established the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board in 2017 to systematically examine fatality data and develop policy recommendations. Since its inception, the board has documented a volatile trend in deaths related to domestic violence incidents:
- In 2016, there were 58 deaths.
- In 2017, the number decreased to 40.
- In 2018, it saw a slight increase to 43 deaths.
- 2019 recorded a notable rise to 70 deaths, with 39 primary victims.
- A brief dip occurred in 2020, with 63 deaths, possibly due to reporting delays or initial pandemic impacts.
- However, 2021 saw a significant spike, with 91 people dying in domestic violence incidents, the highest number since the board began tallying deaths in 2016.
While the specific definition of a domestic violence fatality has undergone minor adjustments over the years, the consistent data collected by the board, as detailed in reports available on the Colorado Department of Law website, reveals a clear long-term increase, underscoring a persistent and growing challenge for the state. In 2024, domestic violence deaths constituted 18% of all Colorado homicides, the highest share in the past five years, according to the official government report from the Attorney General’s office.
The Pandemic’s Shadow: Exacerbating a Pre-Existing Crisis
Experts and advocates point to the COVID-19 pandemic as a major catalyst for the surge in domestic violence fatalities, particularly in 2021. Lockdowns, increased isolation, and widespread financial insecurity created a dangerous environment for victims. Katherine Miller, director at the Phoenix Center at Auraria, noted that the forced proximity during stay-at-home orders significantly challenged victims’ safety and their ability to access help.
Margaret Abrams, Executive Director of the Rose Andom Center, highlighted additional stressors like job losses and housing insecurity, which were rampant during the pandemic. These factors made it “that much harder to then address abuse and violence in their relationship until it’s at a really critical point.” Research, including a 2020 Michigan study cited in the reports, supports this, finding that 64% of those who experienced domestic violence reported it was either new or had worsened since the pandemic’s onset.
The Lethal Connection: Firearms and Domestic Violence
The pervasive role of firearms in domestic violence fatalities is a stark and recurring finding across all reports. Guns were used in 64.2% of deaths in 2019, an alarming 81% in 2021, and 75% in 2024, including every child fatality. Attorney General Phil Weiser has consistently emphasized the critical challenge of removing firearms from individuals known to pose a threat.
Colorado has implemented laws designed to address this, including the Red Flag Law, which allows authorities to seize guns from individuals deemed a threat, and a state law requiring those under domestic violence protection orders to relinquish their firearms. However, Weiser acknowledged that the enforcement of these laws has historically been inconsistent. Efforts are underway to improve implementation, with examples like the Denver District Attorney’s office appointing a firearms investigator who recovered 141 firearms in 2021 and an additional 91 through October of the following year, demonstrating how proactive measures can save lives.
The Silent Victims: Children Caught in the Crossfire
The devastating impact of domestic violence extends far beyond primary victims, profoundly affecting children. In 2019, 19 children were involved in 12 fatal incidents. The 2024 report tragically confirmed eight child collateral deaths, all caused by firearms. Attorney General Weiser described domestic violence death as a “nuclear event in a family,” leaving children with lifelong trauma that can manifest in various detrimental ways. The review board’s recommendations consistently prioritize focusing resources on these child survivors, recognizing their unique vulnerability and the intergenerational cycle of violence that often begins with childhood exposure to abuse.
Policy and Prevention: Recommendations for a Safer Colorado
The Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board and other stakeholders have put forth a range of recommendations aimed at curbing these tragedies:
- Support for Child Survivors: Developing specific policies and resources to aid children exposed to domestic violence and fatalities, acknowledging that many perpetrators witnessed or experienced abuse as children.
- Lethality Assessment Program (LAP): Implementing this program statewide to help first responders identify high-danger victims and tailor appropriate responses.
- Firearm Prohibitions and Enforcement: Enhancing policies to prevent domestic violence perpetrators from possessing firearms, including temporary removal at arrest scenes and clarifying laws for third-degree assault convictions to prohibit firearm possession.
- Judicial and Law Enforcement Training: Providing additional, specialized training for judges and law enforcement officers on the social science behind domestic violence to improve intervention and sentencing.
- Strengthening Local Infrastructure: Investing in and bolstering local domestic violence prevention and support services.
- Improved Enforcement of Protection Orders: Ensuring robust follow-up on protection orders and firearm relinquishments, moving beyond simply asking perpetrators to surrender weapons.
- Resource Provision Without Arrest: Offering informational resources to both parties involved in domestic violence calls, even when no arrest is made, to provide avenues for help before escalation.
State Representative Monica Duran, herself a survivor of domestic violence, has expressed her commitment to this issue, planning legislation to permanently fund organizations assisting victims and to mandate sensitivity training for judges handling domestic violence cases.
Rural Disparities and Funding Gaps
The 2024 report highlighted that rural counties experience a disproportionately high rate of domestic violence fatalities. This issue is compounded by challenges in resource accessibility. U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen, D-Colorado, raised concerns about federal funding cuts impacting these vital services. She specifically mentioned that the Lake County community, despite an increase in domestic violence incidents, saw its only shelter close due to Republican cuts to the Violence Against Women Act, exacerbating the crisis in already vulnerable areas.
Colorado’s ongoing battle against domestic violence fatalities is a complex issue demanding a multi-faceted approach. From addressing the root causes exacerbated by societal stresses like pandemics, to rigorously enforcing firearm prohibitions for perpetrators, and crucially, safeguarding child survivors, the commitment of policymakers, law enforcement, and community advocates remains paramount in forging a safer future for all.
