A new domestic violence perpetrator tracking program is in place in Clark County

Several domestic violence offenders are participating in a new prosecution program recently introduced in Clark County as part of a new state law to protect victims of domestic violence.

As of August 31, Clark County justices have enlisted six offenders in a surveillance program instituted by the Tiffany Hill Act of 2020, a release from the Vancouver Police Department announced. Clark County District Court Probation Services has partnered with 2 Watch Monitoring to launch the program on June 7th, the latter providing installation, monitoring and removal services, as well as assistance to protected victims using a notification app for the program.

The law allows judges to order domestic violence criminals released pending trial to wear a GPS ankle monitor that alerts the victim and police in real time if the perpetrator is in the designated area of the home, school or home The victim’s apartment goes to work, according to the release. Notifications to the victim can be received via SMS, push notification or email.

Clark County is the first Washington county to launch the program, said Bryan Farrell, administrative services manager for the Clark County District Court. The Tiffany Hill Act takes its name from a Clark County woman who was shot dead by her estranged husband while picking up her children from Sarah J. Anderson Elementary School in Salmon Creek on November 26, 2019.

Tiffany Hill’s three children were in their car when her husband Keland shot them dead. He later shot himself after being persecuted by the police.

The bill, SB 5149, was presented by Washington State Senator Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver, at the 2019 Legislative Session. It didn’t go over at first, but came back the next year and was named Tiffany Hill.

“It is fitting that Clark County has taken the lead in our state in implementing the Tiffany Hill Act and allowing victims of domestic violence to create a safe haven for themselves beyond words in a paper injunction,” Wilson said in of the VPD notification.

Keland Hill was bailed at the time of the shooting pending a domestic violence trial.

Wilson said the support of the VPD and the wider Clark County’s criminal justice community was “instrumental” in getting the bill unanimously passed by lawmakers in 2020.

“You have seen, like me, how this law could give victims a chance to regain the sense of self-control that is possible when you stop looking over their shoulders,” Wilson said in the press release. “This is very encouraging news.”

Both Vancouver Police Chief James McElvain and Clark County District Court Judge Kelli Osler said they were “extremely proud” that their respective groups are involved in implementing the new law.

“To avoid further unnecessary tragedies, it is imperative for all of us in the justice system to make our community a safer place for everyone,” Osler said in the press release. “Implementing this program is a step in the right direction.”