‘Hidden homicides’: Families push states for more scrutiny of domestic violence deaths

Advocates are campaigning for "hidden homicide" legislation in multiple states to increase scrutiny of deaths potentially linked to domestic violence, which they argue are often misclassified as suicides or accidents. These activists point to California's Joanna’s Law, enacted in 2024, as a model that requires police officers to interview family members and allows families to request complete autopsies under specific circumstances.