KCSDV Brings Strangulation Training to State After Bill Passes Into Kansas Law

Contact:

Lucca Wang, Communications Coordinator, Media Contact
lwang@kcsdv.org
Office: 785-232-9784 Extension 335 | Mobile: 785-633-6648
https://www.kcsdv.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 22, 2018

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KCSDV Brings Strangulation Training to State After Bill Passes Into Kansas Law

TOPEKA, Kan. – The Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence (KCSDV) is holding a multidisciplinary training on strangulation in Topeka on April 10, 2018. The training comes to Kansas after the Kansas legislature increased strangulation in domestic relationships to a felony last legislative session.

Strangulation has been identified as one of the most lethal forms of domestic violence and sexual assault: unconsciousness may occur within seconds and death within minutes.

Non-fatal strangulation is a risk factor for homicide of women, underscoring the need of non-fatal strangulation screening when assessing abused women in emergency situations. A study published in the October 2008 Journal of Emergency Medicine found non-fatal strangulation was reported in 45 percent of attempted homicides and 43 percent of homicides of women. Prior non-fatal strangulation was associated with over six times the likelihood of attempted homicide and over seven times the likelihood of homicide.

“Strangulation is about power and control,” said Joyce Grover, executive director of KCSDV. “The abuser is telling the victim, ‘I can kill you.’”

KCSDV’s training will include:

• medical aspects of strangulation
• investigating and prosecuting strangulation cases
• practical tips for all professionals handling strangulation cases
• developing and using experts in strangulation cases in court

Presenters Gael Strack, former San Diego prosecutor and chief executive officer of Alliance for HOPE International (Alliance), and Dr. Bill Smock, medical director of The Institute of Clinical Forensic Medicine and Nursing and police surgeon at the Louisville Metro Police Department, are both internationally recognized experts on strangulation.

Strack was involved in much of the initial work and research on strangulation in domestic violence-related homicides and oversees a training program of Alliance developed in response to the increasing demand from communities around the world for intimate partner violence strangulation crimes training and expert consulting, planning, and support services advice.

Smock became the first physician in the U.S. to complete a post-graduate fellowship in clinical forensic medicine in 1994. He is a professor of the University of Louisville’s Department of Emergency Medicine.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas is cosponsoring the daylong training, which precedes the 21st Annual Crime Victims’ Rights Conference by the Kansas Governor’s Office and Kansas Attorney General’s Office.

To register for the training by April 3, visit KCSDV’s website at https://www.kcsdv.org/train.

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The Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence (KCSDV) is Kansas’ leading statewide voice for victims and survivors of sexual and domestic violence. KCSDV works with 27 coalition members and with partners across the state of Kansas to prevent and eliminate sexual and domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. Find more information on KCSDV’s website at https://www.kcsdv.org. Contact KCSDV by message at https://www.kcsdv.org/contact and by phone at 785-232-9784.

The 24-hour Kansas Crisis Hotline is 888-END-ABUSE (888-363-2287).