On August 15, 2025, the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office released the 2025 Annual Report of the Domestic Abuse Death Review Team (DADRT). This report examines domestic violence deaths across Nebraska with the goal of improving survivor safety and preventing future tragedies.

Since the law creating the Review Team went into effect in July 2022, 72 Nebraskans have lost their lives to domestic violence. These deaths include mothers, fathers, children, neighbors, and friends. Behind every number is a family forever changed.

The Review Team is made up of professionals and survivors who study these cases once criminal proceedings are complete. Their mission is to identify contributing factors and gaps in the systems that should protect victims—so that communities like ours can respond better, stronger, and earlier.

Attorney General Mike Hilgers emphasized:

“The goal of this report is to improve survivor safety and aid in preventing future domestic abuse deaths. Every victim lost to domestic violence in Nebraska is a terrible tragedy that forever impacts the loved ones of the victim.”

Why This Matters for Our Communities

The report highlights urgent needs:

  • Enforcing protection orders so they are trusted and effective.

  • Addressing firearms access in domestic violence cases.

  • Early intervention tools like the Lethality Assessment Program (LAP) are used to identify victims at the highest risk.

  • Support for children and families who lose loved ones to violence.

  • Stronger prevention in schools through social-emotional learning.

Bright Horizons’ Commitment

At Bright Horizons, we stand with survivors, and we believe every death is preventable. This report confirms what we see every day in our 10-county service area: domestic violence is not just an individual crisis, it’s a community responsibility.

We are committed to:

  • Partnering with law enforcement, schools, and prosecutors to strengthen safety.

  • Expanding access to advocacy, housing, and support for survivors and their children.

  • Using the findings of the Review Team to push for accountability and prevention across rural Nebraska.

👉 To read the full 2025 DADRT Annual Report, visit the 2025 Domestic Abuse Death Review Team Annual Report.

💜 Together, we honor those we have lost by fighting for a future where every survivor is believed, supported, and safe.