Kentucky wants to 'change generational cycles' with guidelines for prosecuting strangulation cases

Kendall Staton, Lexington Herald-Leader on Jan 15, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky is streamlining the medical evaluation and criminal prosecution of strangulation cases.

With a law passed in 2019, Kentucky became one of the last five states to designate strangulation a felony charge. Now, the commonwealth is among the first states to publish a guide to strangulation response — with directions for prosecutors, law enforcement, health care providers and victim advocates.

The manual, created in partnership with Kentucky Children’s Hospital at the University of Kentucky, outlines signs of strangulation for law enforcement and medical professionals. It also offers a detailed rundown of effective strategies to prosecute offenders.

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman said the goal is to increase successful court prosecution of strangulation.

“Strangulation is one of the most accurate predictors for the subsequent homicide of victims of domestic violence. It’s the biggest clue that a murder will take place,” he said.

Victims of strangulation are 750% more likely to be killed by their abuser than victims who haven’t been strangled previously, National Institute of Health research shows.

Strangulation is one of the foremost domestic violence issues in Kentucky, based on data from Kentucky’s 2023 domestic violence data report. The Kentucky State Police reported 917 instances of first- and second-degree strangulation in 2023.

That’s up 4.2% from the 880 reported in 2022.

The numbers are even higher in court charges, which means a domestic violence incident that started with assault might end with felony strangulation charges.

Sgt. Sarah Mantle with the Louisville Metro Police Department worked in the special victims unit before and after strangulation was designated a felony. She said the manual will help fill a gap in training on how to handle strangulation victims and offenders.

“I saw firsthand the struggles the law enforcement community across Kentucky faced when investigating strangulations,” she said. “There were no set rules, no guidance, no training.”

The 129-page manual includes details on who investigators should talk to, evidence to be collected and charges to be pursued. It also outlines best practice for medical evaluation and victim advocacy.

Dr. Scottie Day, physician-in-chief at Kentucky Children’s Hospital, said the manual will help combat the culture of child abuse in the commonwealth, which had 1,146 child victims of physical abuse in 2022.

“This manual is the newest tool in our toolbox for combating violence in the homes of children,” he said. “We will change generational cycles.”

_______