Judge Jeanine Pirro: Brian Laundrie, Gabby Petito and what Utah law says about domestic violence

The Utah Code 77-36-2.2 (1) (2) makes very clear that the primary duty of law enforcement officers in a domestic violence call is to protect the victim and ENFORCE THE LAW.

We proved that with the proper support women will cooperate with charges brought on their behalf by the people of their state. We created shelters, some in churches, we fought for new laws, brought in mental health counselors and educated police and judges. We crusaded for victims, many of them too shy or ashamed to come forward; many so beaten into submission that they blamed only themselves for abuse, many silent until they met death at their abuser’s hands.

Domestic violence laws were created to protect all domestic violence victims regardless of the victim's address or location. Any suggestion that because Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie were not from Utah the police were precluded from making an arrest or getting involved is not only incorrect, it is dangerous. In fact, it’s contrary to Utah law.