A DEMAND FOR ACCOUNTABILITY: THE WYOMING CRISIS. Systemic Failure Puts Survivors’ Lives at Risk

To: Wyoming State Legislators, Judicial Officials, and Community Leaders

The data proves that Wyoming is operating in a state of systemic neglect regarding intimate partner violence. Domestic Homicide Rate ranked as high as 3rd in the U.S. for the rate of females murdered by males. The system's failures are often fatal. Justice Barrier when domestic battery and assault are often classified as low-priority misdemeanors. Abusers face minimal consequences, creating a cycle of escalating danger. Support Collapse when state programs and local shelters are struggling due to devastating federal and local funding cuts. Survivors have nowhere to go and no one to turn to when state-level support vanishes. The failure to keep records and the calculated erosion of funding are not accidental oversights; they are evidence that the state is actively choosing to minimize and ignore this epidemic.

We, the survivors who have been failed by the current system—the Invisible Infantry—refuse to remain silent. The state of Wyoming’s response to domestic violence is not just inadequate; it is an active betrayal of the women and men seeking safety, transforming our courts and laws into instruments that protect abusers and re-victimize victims.We demand immediate, transparent, and comprehensive reform.

The Disgrace: Statistics That Demand Action - The data proves that Wyoming is operating in a state of systemic neglect regarding intimate partner violence.

The failure to keep records and the calculated erosion of funding are not accidental oversights; they are evidence that the state is actively choosing to minimize and ignore this epidemic.

The Human Cost: A Case of Judicial Betrayal - The statistics represent real people and real lives being destroyed. We stand with all survivors.  

One survivor currently navigating the system, whose case serves as chilling evidence of this systemic breakdown:A survivor with concrete evidence of abuse was not only ignored by the court but was subsequently arrested alongside the documented abuser. This act, of punishing the victim while excusing the aggressor, is the ultimate re-victimization. It demonstrates a judicial bias so profound that it actively incentivizes abuse and punishes those who dare to seek justice. When law enforcement and the courts reward abusers and penalize the victim—even when evidence is clear—it sends a lethal message: You are alone, and your safety is worthless to the state.

Our Demand: Reform, Resource, and Respite

We demand that the state of Wyoming take immediate, decisive action on three fronts: 

 1.  Immediate Judicial and Legislative Reform 

1. Mandate Zero-Tolerance: Implement rigorous, standardized training for all judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers to eliminate systemic bias against victims and ensure evidence is prioritized over procedural ease. 
2. Pass the DVORRA: Adopt the Domestic Violence Offender Registration and Rehabilitation Act (DVORRA) framework to mandate accountability. This legislation would establish a statewide offender registry for all convicted domestic violence offenders for (5–10 years) and require participation in certified, Lundy Bancroft-modeled 26–52 week intervention programs focusing on accountability and behavioral change.
3. End Dual-Arrests: Pass legislation that explicitly prohibits the arrest of a documented victim alongside their abuser when clear evidence of primary aggressor status exists.

2.  Restore and Protect Funding

1. Reverse Cuts: Immediately restore state funding streams for domestic violence shelters, crisis lines, and victim advocacy programs to ensure life-saving services are available across all counties. 
2. Mandate Data Collection: Establish transparent, mandatory state record-keeping for all domestic violence-related misdemeanors and felonies, eliminating the ability to hide the scale of this crisis.

3.   Support the Survivor-Led Solution: The Sanctum

We are building the solution you have refused to fund. The Sanctum is a dedicated restorative haven for the Invisible Infantry—a place for healing, empowerment, and self-sufficiency for those failed by the state. We demand that the legislature and relevant departments officially recognize and support this vital, survivor-led project by:

1. Facilitating Land Acquisition: Providing assistance with securing land to establish the permanent sanctuary location. 
2. Partnering for Skill Building: Directing resources toward vocational training and mentorship programs to help survivors achieve economic independence.

The time for excuses is over. We do not need sympathy; we need justice, and we need action and we need it NOW. The lives of Wyoming's survivors depend on your immediate and unequivocal response. Respond to this demand. End this disgrace. Support the change now.