The Kentucky Attorney General’s Office released the state’s first-ever toolkit to combat strangulation during an event at the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital.
The Manual, “Responding to Strangulation in Kentucky: Guidelines for Prosecutors, Law Enforcement, Health Care Providers and Victim Advocates” is one of the first of its kind in the country.
“In 2019, the Kentucky General Assembly passed the commonwealth’s first statute on strangulation, making it a serious felony,” the attorney general’s office said. “According to the manual, strangulation is one of the most accurate predictors for the subsequent homicide of victims of domestic violence. It’s also one of the most lethal forms of domestic violence.”
The majority of police officers killed in the line of duty are killed by men who have strangled women, according to The Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention.
“Strangulation is a cruel and brutal crime. Because of the difficulties identifying the visible and non-visible signs of the abuse, it has been challenging to investigate and prosecute. This manual aims to end that,” Attorney General Russell Coleman said. “With the collaboration of this outstanding team from diverse backgrounds, we have developed a comprehensive guide to help protect victims and prosecute offenders. This manual will help our partners across Kentucky keep this commonwealth safe.”
The manual identifies the signs of strangulation for medical professionals and law enforcement. It also shares strategies to effectively prosecute cases under Kentucky law and how advocates should engage with victims who suffered this specific crime.
For more than a year, a multidisciplinary team of Kentucky professionals, experts and public servants developed the manual, including the attorney general’s office, the Boone County Attorney’s office, Louisville Metro Police Department, The Nest in Lexington, Kentucky Children’s Hospital along with UK HealthCare, and St. Elizabeth Healthcare in northern Kentucky.
In August, the attorney general’s office released the 2024 Domestic Violence Prosecution Manual.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
