Kentucky has been one of the states with the highest rates of domestic violence homicides. Now, state officials are taking action to reduce this alarming trend. The Kentucky Attorney General’s office has introduced new guidelines to help prevent domestic violence murders, particularly those involving strangulation, which research shows is a major indicator of future violence.
In an effort to reduce the number of people killed by their partners, the Kentucky Attorney General’s office released a manual last week. The manual aims to provide clear steps for medical professionals, law enforcement officers, and prosecutors in handling domestic violence cases where strangulation is involved. This initiative is part of a larger effort to implement a 2019 state law that made domestic violence strangulation a felony, rather than just a misdemeanor.
The Importance of Strangulation Prevention
Strangulation is one of the most serious forms of abuse in domestic violence cases. Studies have shown that if a victim is strangled by their partner, they are much more likely to be killed later. Specifically, research from the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention reveals that victims of strangulation are 750% more likely to be murdered by the same partner.
Attorney General Russell Coleman emphasized the danger of strangulation, explaining that when someone strangles another person, it is a clear warning sign that they may eventually commit murder. According to Coleman, “When a man puts his hands around a woman’s neck, he has just raised his hand and said ‘I am a killer.’”
Kentucky has seen a rise in domestic violence deaths. In 2020, the state ranked 10th nationally for the rate of women killed by men, with 82% of female victims being murdered by someone they knew. In Louisville, the state’s largest city, 16 people were killed by domestic partners in 2022 alone.
Steps to Take After Strangulation
The new manual created by the Attorney General’s office is designed to help all professionals involved in cases of domestic violence. This includes police officers, medical responders, and prosecutors. It provides guidelines on how to recognize strangulation and collect evidence that can be used in court. For example, law enforcement officials are instructed to look for signs such as a raspy voice or difficulty breathing, which can indicate strangulation. They are also advised to ask questions that may reveal whether the victim lost consciousness during the attack.
The manual also stresses the importance of emergency responders and medical professionals knowing how to treat victims of strangulation, even if there are no visible injuries. Often, victims of strangulation don’t show immediate signs of harm, but they may suffer from serious internal injuries that could lead to strokes or even death days or weeks later.
A Step Toward Change
Kentucky was one of the last states to pass a law making domestic violence strangulation a felony. Now, with the introduction of the manual, Kentucky is becoming a leader in addressing this serious issue. The manual is being distributed to law enforcement and medical professionals across the state to ensure that every aspect of a strangulation case is handled properly, from investigation to prosecution.
Casey Gwinn, co-founder of the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention, called the release of the manual a “good start” but stressed that more needs to be done. He emphasized the need for Kentucky to aggressively prosecute strangulation cases as felonies in order to protect victims and reduce the number of domestic violence deaths.
Moving Forward
Kentucky’s new approach to preventing domestic violence homicides is an important step in addressing a long-standing problem. By focusing on the serious nature of strangulation and providing better training and resources for professionals, the state hopes to reduce the number of deaths caused by domestic violence. However, the real test will be in how well the guidelines are followed and whether Kentucky can make real progress in protecting victims from future harm.
(Source : newsbreak.com)
