What Every Advocate Needs to Know About Strangulation
TLDRThe presentation by Ashley Ramschlag, Vice President of Digital Services at Teresa's Fund and DomesticShelters.org, features Gail Strack, CEO and co-founder of Alliance for Hope International, discussing the critical issue of strangulation in domestic violence cases. Strack, an expert in non-fatal strangulation, emphasizes the increased likelihood of homicide for victims of strangulation and the importance of recognizing it as a significant warning sign. She shares insights from her experience as a former prosecutor and her research, highlighting the need for better training, laws, and protocols to address this severe form of abuse. Strack also underscores the importance of medical attention for survivors, as many injuries from strangulation are internal and not immediately apparent. The webinar aims to educate attendees on identifying strangulation, improving policy and practice, and supporting survivors through trauma-informed care and legal advocacy.
Takeaways
- 📈 **Strangulation and Domestic Violence Awareness**: The presentation emphasized the importance of recognizing strangulation as a significant warning sign in domestic violence cases, often being the 'last warning shot' before a potential homicide.
- 🚨 **Legal Recognition of Strangulation**: 48 states in the U.S. have passed felony strangulation laws, highlighting the severity of this crime. However, consistent application and understanding of these laws vary.
- 🩺 **Medical Consequences of Strangulation**: Strangulation often results in internal injuries that may not be immediately visible, underscoring the need for medical attention and imaging to diagnose conditions like carotid dissection or traumatic brain injury.
- 🤝 **Collaborative Approach**: The necessity for a coordinated effort among law enforcement, medical professionals, advocates, and the legal system to effectively respond to and prevent strangulation incidents was a recurring theme.
- 🌟 **Training and Education**: Ongoing training for professionals is vital to ensure that strangulation is taken seriously, and victims are provided with appropriate support and resources.
- 📉 **Minimization by Victims and Professionals**: There is a tendency for both victims and those in the legal and medical fields to downplay the severity of non-fatal strangulation incidents due to a lack of visible injuries or understanding.
- 🧐 **Identifying Strangulation**: The presentation discussed methods to identify strangulation, including asking about pressure applied to the neck and understanding the different terms victims may use to describe choking.
- 📚 **Research and Data Collection**: The importance of research and data collection in understanding the prevalence and impact of strangulation was highlighted, with the speaker sharing her personal experience in conducting research in San Diego.
- 🌐 **Advocacy and Policy Improvement**: The role of advocates in improving policies and practices related to strangulation was discussed, including the need for better training and resources for professionals interacting with victims.
- 📉 **Impact of COVID-19**: The pandemic has led to an increase in domestic violence cases, including strangulation, with reports indicating a rise in homicides and suicides related to domestic violence.
- 💡 **The Role of Hope and Support**: Providing hope and support to victims is crucial in their recovery process. This includes offering resources, understanding, and navigating the medical and legal systems on their behalf.
Q & A
What is the role of Ashley Ramschlag at Teresa's Fund and DomesticShelters.org?
-Ashley Ramschlag is the Vice President of Digital Services at Teresa's Fund and DomesticShelters.org, where they maintain a searchable database of domestic violence programs and provide resources to over 2 million people annually.
What is the significance of strangulation in the context of domestic violence?
-Strangulation is a serious and often lethal form of domestic violence. It is considered a 'last warning shot' before a homicide and can result in significant physical and psychological harm, including traumatic brain injury and death.
What are some of the challenges faced by survivors of non-fatal strangulation?
-Survivors face numerous challenges, including receiving proper medical attention, navigating the criminal and civil justice systems, and dealing with long-term health consequences. Many survivors also struggle with feelings of fear and a lack of understanding from professionals and the public.
What steps can be taken to improve the response to non-fatal strangulation cases?
-Improvements can be made by increasing training for professionals, updating laws and protocols, ensuring proper medical assessment and imaging for survivors, and holding offenders accountable. Additionally, providing resources and support for survivors is crucial.
What is the importance of the National Family Justice Center Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention?
-The National Family Justice Center Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention is a key organization that oversees training and resources for handling non-fatal strangulation cases. It aims to improve policy and practice to better serve survivors and hold offenders accountable.
Why is it crucial to ask about strangulation when working with domestic violence victims?
-Asking about strangulation is crucial because it can be a hidden form of abuse that may not be immediately visible. Identifying strangulation can lead to proper medical care, legal action, and support for the victim, potentially preventing further harm or death.
What is the impact of strangulation on the brain and why is immediate medical attention important?
-Strangulation can cause traumatic brain injury due to lack of oxygen. Immediate medical attention is critical for assessing and treating potential internal injuries, including carotid dissection and other life-threatening conditions.
How does strangulation relate to coercive control in domestic violence situations?
-Strangulation is a form of coercive control, where the abuser uses fear and intimidation to dominate the victim. It is a method intentionally used to demonstrate power and control over the victim's life and death.
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What are some of the signs and symptoms that may indicate a person has been strangled?
-Signs and symptoms of strangulation can include redness or marks on the neck, changes in voice, difficulty swallowing, coughing, behavioral changes, and memory loss. Internal injuries may not be visible but can be life-threatening.
What is the importance of training for professionals in recognizing and responding to strangulation cases?
-Training is essential to ensure that professionals can accurately identify strangulation, understand its serious medical implications, and provide appropriate support and intervention. This can lead to better outcomes for survivors and more effective prosecution of offenders.
How can advocates and professionals help victims who are recanting or minimizing the event of strangulation?
-Advocates and professionals can help by providing trauma-informed support, ensuring that each point of contact in the justice system is consistent in recognizing the severity of strangulation, and using legal strategies that do not rely solely on the victim's testimony.
Outlines
😀 Introduction and Presentation Overview
Ashley Ramschlag, VP of Digital Services at Teresa's Fund and DomesticShelters.org, welcomes participants to a presentation on strangulation and domestic violence. She introduces the guest presenter, Gail Strack, and outlines the webinar's procedures, including the Q&A format and technical support. Ashley also provides an overview of DomesticShelters.org, its resources, and upcoming events.
📚 Strangulation Training and Survivor Engagement
Gail Strack discusses the importance of strangulation training, highlighting the lack of awareness and the need for continuous education. She emphasizes the significance of asking about strangulation in domestic violence cases and the importance of medical attention. Gail shares her personal journey and commitment to improving the response to non-fatal strangulation cases.
🚨 The Urgency and Prevalence of Strangulation in Domestic Violence
Gail addresses the urgency behind strangulation as a gendered crime and its connection to domestic violence homicides. She discusses the experiences of survivors, the need for professional training, and the importance of understanding the long-term health consequences and the criminal justice system's role in addressing strangulation.
📉 The Law and Strangulation: A National Perspective
The discussion shifts to the legal aspects of strangulation, with Gail detailing the progress made in passing felony strangulation laws across the U.S. She emphasizes the importance of these laws in recognizing the lethality of strangulation and the need for forensic exams for victims.
📝 Personal Accounts and the Impact of Strangulation
Gail shares personal accounts from survivors to illustrate the terror and trauma of strangulation. She discusses the long-term effects on victims, the importance of believing their experiences, and the need for a trauma-informed approach in legal and medical settings.
🧐 Signs and Symptoms of Strangulation
Gail provides a comprehensive list of signs and symptoms associated with strangulation, emphasizing the often internal nature of the injuries. She discusses the importance of medical imaging to detect internal damage and the potential long-term effects, including traumatic brain injury.
🤔 Addressing Questions and Concerns
Gail addresses various questions related to strangulation, including the legal duties of medical providers, the impact of graphic evidence in trials, and the differences between strangulation and smothering. She also discusses strategies for assisting victims who may be minimizing or recanting their experiences.
📅 Closing Remarks and Upcoming Webinar Promotion
Ashley Ramschlag concludes the presentation by thanking Gail and the participants. She reminds attendees that a recording of the webinar, along with additional resources, will be sent out and encourages everyone to register for the next webinar on resilience.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Strangulation
💡Domestic Violence
💡Non-Fatal Strangulation
💡Traumatic Brain Injury
💡Family Justice Center
💡Advocacy
💡Legal Duty
💡Coercive Control
💡Trauma-Informed Training
💡Risk Assessment
💡Medical Attention
Highlights
Gail Strack, CEO of Alliance for Hope International, emphasizes the importance of recognizing strangulation as a critical warning sign in domestic violence cases, often being the 'last warning shot' before a homicide.
Strangulation is identified as a gendered crime and is more likely to result in death if it occurs even once, highlighting the lethality of such acts.
The presentation discusses the lack of visible injuries in strangulation cases, which often leads to underreporting and inadequate medical attention.
Gail shares her personal journey and motivation stemming from the tragic deaths of two teenagers, which catalyzed her commitment to improving the understanding and response to non-fatal strangulation.
The webinar provides insights into the psychological impact of strangulation, including the fear and trauma experienced by survivors, which is often underestimated or overlooked.
Gail underscores the need for ongoing training and education for professionals to effectively respond to and escalate strangulation cases from misdemeanors to felonies.
The presentation reveals the importance of medical imaging in diagnosing internal injuries that are not visible to the naked eye, which is crucial for strangulation cases.
The webinar highlights the role of advocacy in supporting survivors through the legal and medical processes, emphasizing the need for a coordinated, trauma-informed approach.
Gail discusses the significance of legislative changes and the passage of felony strangulation laws in 48 states, which have improved the legal framework for addressing this issue.
The importance of recognizing strangulation as a form of coercive control is discussed, drawing parallels between the psychological impact of strangulation and other forms of torture.
The presentation calls for the implementation of protocols that ensure immediate medical assessment for victims of strangulation, as part of a comprehensive response strategy.
Gail shares a survivor's story, illustrating the long-term health consequences and the challenges faced by survivors in navigating the medical and legal systems post-strangulation.
The webinar addresses the need for better communication and understanding between survivors, advocates, and professionals to improve outcomes for victims of strangulation.
Gail emphasizes the impact of strangulation on the brain and the importance of timely medical intervention to prevent or mitigate traumatic brain injuries.
The presentation discusses the role of strangulation in the escalation of domestic violence, positioning it as a critical point for intervention to prevent potential homicide.
The webinar concludes with a call to action for attendees to 'always ask and always do more' when supporting survivors of domestic violence, particularly in cases involving strangulation.
Transcripts
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