Improving Identification of Strangulation Injuries in Domestic Violence: Pilot Data From a Researcher–Practitioner Collaboration

Abstract

Efforts to partner researchers and practitioners have the potential to significantly improve both research and response to non-fatal strangulation within the context of domestic violence. Non-fatal strangulation is far more common than most formal data suggest and is a highly gendered form of domestic assault often used to control or intimidate a partner; however, depending on how the assault takes place, it can leave little obvious physical evidence to an untrained investigator. The present study estimates the occurrence of strangulation cases and possible strangulation cases that may not be explicitly classified as such in official police reports due to inadequacies in law enforcement training. We offer a description of these types of cases as they compare with domestic violence police reports from non-strangulation cases. Results highlight the gendered nature of strangulation as well as the importance of practitioners and researchers critically reflecting on issues within the criminal justice system in an effort to redress inadequacies, hold offenders accountable, and save lives.

Nonfatal Strangulation in a Sample of Domestically Violent Stalkers: The Importance of Recognizing Coercively Controlling Behaviors

“…In line with the conclusions of Pritchard et al, (2018), the generally low prevalence of nonfatal strangulation seen in the current study and in Pritchard et al's (2018) research suggests that police officers may be overlooking incidents of strangulation among intimate partners. Given that visible injury is only seen in approximately half of strangulation cases, it seems plausible that officers may not be correctly identifying all nonfatal strangulation attacks.…”

“…Using a police dataset consisting of 9,884 domestic incidents where stalking behavior was indicated, the current study found that the victim reported previous nonfatal strangulation in 16.6% of these incidents ( n = 1,638), a figure similar to other research based on police data (Pritchard et al, 2018). The prevalence of nonfatal strangulation among intimate partners varies within the research, often depending on the nature of the sample.…”

“…However, the prevalence of nonfatal strangulation tends to be much higher, around 68%, when the sample consists of women who have survived intimate partner violence (Messing et al, 2018; Wilbur et al, 2001). Research relying on police identification of nonfatal strangulation reports much lower (11.5%) rates of nonfatal strangulation (Pritchard et al, 2018). As the sample in the current study is not restricted to individuals who have survived intimate partner violence, but rather domestic incidents in general, it was expected that the rate of nonfatal strangulation would be lower.…”

“…Many of these victims had experienced multiple such attempts, with the average number reported as 5.3 (Wilbur et al, 2001). Research has since expanded the findings of Strack et al (2001) and Wilbur et al (2001), with a number of studies reporting a high prevalence of strangulation in domestic violence situations (Douglas & Fitzgerald, 2014; Glass et al, 2008; Hawley, McClane, & Strack, 2001; Joshi, Thomas, & Sorenson, 2012; Mcquown et al, 2016; Messing, Thomas, Ward-Lasher, & Brewer, 2018; Pritchard, Reckdenwald, Nordham, & Holton, 2018; Shields, Corey, Weakley-Jones, & Stewart, 2010; Smith, Mills, & Taliaferro, 2001; Sorenson et al, 2014; Sutherland, Bybee, & Sullivan, 2002; Thomas et al, 2014). The prevalence of nonfatal strangulation varies across studies, with rates ranging from 3% to 68%, depending on the nature of the sample, although research that relies on police reports tends to report lower prevalence (11.5%) of nonfatal strangulation, as described by Pritchard et al (2018).…”

The devil's in the details: Measuring mass violence

“…Finally, according to the FBI site for the SHR, NIBRS does not include drowning, pushed or thrown, or strangulation among the weapon types causing deaths, and the circumstances do not include sniper attacks, arguments over money or property, or Lover's triangles. Drowning and dying from being pushed or thrown are more likely to kill young children and the elderly (Huff‐Corzine et al., ), whereas strangulation is common among victims of intimate partner violence (Pritchard, Reckdenwald, & Nordham, ; Pritchard, Reckdenwald, Nordham, & Holton, ).…”