Law enforcement ERPO, lethality assessment, and behavioral threat assessment trainings
The Colorado Department of Law offers free, interactive, case-based trainings for law enforcement agencies focused on violence prevention, early intervention, and coordinated responses to high-risk situations. These trainings support officers and agencies in identifying risk, making structured decisions, and appropriately deploying using a range of criminal and non-criminal tools to prevent violence before it occurs. Together, these trainings provide a continuum of risk identification and intervention tools designed to reduce suicide, domestic violence, and targeted violence.
Training Format and Approach
Law enforcement trainings are in person and highly interactive, with an emphasis on:
- Real-world case scenarios
- Facilitated discussion
- Application of tools in day-to-day policing
- Alignment with existing agency practices and priorities
Trainings are customized to the needs of each agency and may range from a half day (approximately 4 hours) to a multi-day training (up to 2 days), depending on interest, staffing, and operational needs.
In addition to formal training, the Department of Law provides ongoing technical assistance to support agencies as questions arise during implementation or coordination with partners.
Extreme Risk Protection Orders training
This training is a free, in-person, customizable 2–6 hour training offered by the Colorado Attorney General’s Office.
All sessions cover:
- How ERPOs work under Colorado law.
- Legal standards and common use cases.
- Officer roles in petitioning and service.
- Case studies including body-worn camera footage.
Depending on time and agency interest, the training can include deeper dives into court practice, complex service scenarios, interagency coordination, and implementation challenges. Agencies often begin with leadership-level training, with optional follow-up briefings and technical assistance available for additional personnel.
Email preventiontraining@coag.gov to request an ERPO training for your agency.
Lethality Assessment Protocol training
This training is a free, in-person, 2-hour training offered by the Colorado Attorney General’s Office focused on identifying high-risk domestic violence cases and using LAP to support timely intervention and referral. The training covers:
- Domestic violence lethality risk factors.
- Proper use of the 11-question LAP screening tool.
- The referral process that immediately connects high-risk victims to advocacy and resources.
Agencies often begin with leadership or supervisory staff, with follow-up training and technical assistance available for patrol officers and other personnel.
Email preventiontraining@coag.gov to request a LAP training for your agency.
Domestic Violence Lethality training
This training is a free, in-person 4-hour training offered by the Colorado Attorney General’s Office that situates domestic violence within the broader landscape of serious injury and homicide risk. In Colorado, domestic violence accounted for approximately 18% of all homicides in recent years, underscoring the importance of early identification and targeted intervention in high-risk cases.
The training reviews common lethality risk factors and escalation patterns, then focuses on two key law enforcement tools—the Lethality Assessment Protocol (LAP) and Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs)—that can be used at different points to mitigate risk. Participants learn how LAP identifies high-risk cases and creates an immediate pathway to victim support, and how ERPOs can be used to reduce access to firearms when legal thresholds are met. The course is designed for command staff and supervisors, with optional follow-up training and technical assistance available for patrol officers and other personnel.
Email preventiontraining@coag.gov to request a Domestic Violence Lethality training for your agency.
Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) training
This training is a 2-hour, in-person training offered by the Colorado Attorney General’s Office that provides law enforcement leadership with an operational framework for identifying, assessing, and managing concerning behaviors before they escalate to targeted violence.
The course introduces evidence-based BTAM principles, including the pathway to violence, key warning signs, and the distinction between individuals who make threats and those who pose a credible risk. Participants learn law enforcement’s role within multidisciplinary threat management teams and how BTAM supports structured decision-making and ongoing case management.
This training can be delivered on its own or paired with separate ERPO training, which provides additional legal tools for addressing certain high-risk cases identified through the threat assessment process.
Email preventiontraining@coag.gov to request a BTAM training for your agency.
How these trainings work together
All of our law enforcement trainings are presented as complementary tools within a comprehensive violence prevention framework. Together, they support law enforcement agencies in:
- Identifying high-risk situations earlier.
- Expanding response options beyond arrest alone.
- Strengthening coordination with community partners.
- Reducing the likelihood of serious or lethal violence.
Agencies may request any training individually or design a combined training that aligns with their operational needs.
The Attorney General’s Office also provides technical assistance on the implementation of ERPO, LAP, and BTAM within a law enforcement agency’s operation. Such technical assistance can include:
- Facilitating connections with community partners to set up LAP within a community.
- Case consultation to assess whether an ERPO may be appropriate.
- Developing ERPO or LAP protocols.
To request technical assistance, email preventiontraining@coag.gov.