Domestic Violence and Strangulation
by Kelly M. Glenn
Strangulation, as it applies to crime and intimate partner violence, occurs when one person applies pressure to the throat of another and impedes the breathing and/or circulation of blood without that person’s consent or against their will. Often, victims will describe strangulation as “choking,” but they are two separate things.
Strangulation is a significant factor when determining the lethality risk in a domestic violence relationship. Unlike other forms of abuse, where physical contact is either:
- non-existent: verbal/emotional and/or psychological abuse,
- from a distance: throwing objects or even brandishing/using a firearm, or
- close but quick: smacking, hitting, kicking, etc.,
strangulation involves a very personal type of violence. It’s up close, aggressive, and life threatening, even if it only lasts for a short period of time. Unconsciousness can occur within seconds, followed by brain damage, and death within minutes. It is purposeful and inflicts extreme terror upon the victim.
Strangulation is a severe form of control.
When an abuser strangles his or her victim, what they are conveying, face to face and while staring at the victim, is that they own the victim at that moment and can make them stop breathing…or worse…stop living.
Strangulation is an exercise of power.
“According to the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention, ‘A woman who has suffered a nonfatal strangulation incident with her intimate partner is 750% more likely to be killed by the same perpetrator…with a gun.’1” Strangulation is particularly difficult identify and document for a number of reasons; however, seeking medical attention is imperative to treating the short and long-term side effects of strangulation and could save a victim’s life in the future if she or he receives referrals to domestic violence prevention programs from medical personnel.
Sources
1Ketchmark, S. (2020, January 08). All abusers are not equal: New IPV research reveals an indicator of deadly abuse. Retrieved from https://www.strangulationtraininginstitute.com/all-abusers-are-not-equal-new-ipv-research-reveals-an-indicator-of-deadly-abuse/
Suggested Citation for this Article
Glenn, K.M., Criminal Justice Know How, LLC, October 2020, Domestic Violence and Strangulation. https://criminaljusticeknowhow.com/domestic-violence-and-strangulation/.
