Improving law enforcement’s response to non-fatal strangulation
Policing: An International Journal
ISSN: 1363-951X
Article publication date: 16 July 2019
Issue publication date: 20 November 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate a coordinated effort to improve the law enforcement response to non-fatal strangulation in the context of domestic violence.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors compare law enforcement identification and documentation of strangulation in domestic violence cases before and after the implementation of a strangulation-specific training program in one Central Florida County.
Findings
The results indicate preliminary support for the effectiveness of training law enforcement, suggesting that the response to strangulation can be improved with comprehensive law enforcement training.
Practical implications
An improved response by law enforcement may have the potential to increase offender accountability of non-fatal strangulation – a potentially deadly assault.
Originality/value
The study is the first to evaluate strangulation-specific training efforts of law enforcement. Results point to opportunities that can be taken to improve law enforcement’s response to non-fatal strangulation in domestic violence.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This multi-agency collaboration was made possible from support of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Health Department of Brevard County, Office of the State Attorney’s Domestic Violence Unit, Salvation Army Domestic Violence Program, Serene Harbor Domestic Violence Center, Sexual Assault Victim Services, Women’s Club of Florida, Zonta Club of Florida, Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention. Additionally, the authors would like to thank Dr Adam Pritchard who was integral in fostering communication and coordination between key agencies, managing systematic data collection and analyzing data throughout the pilot program and acquiring local funding to support the project.
Citation
Reckdenwald, A., Fernandez, K. and Mandes, C.L. (2019), "Improving law enforcement’s response to non-fatal strangulation", Policing: An International Journal, Vol. 42 No. 6, pp. 1007-1021. https://doi.org/10.1108/PIJPSM-12-2018-0186
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited