1. A Snapshot of Strangulation Cases in Travis County, Texas.
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February 2018 Crime Victims' Institute College of Criminal Justice . Sam Houston State University A Snapshot of Strangulation Cases in Travis County, Texas Sara B. Zedaker, Ph.D. Leana A. Bouffard, Ph.D. Patrick Q. Brady, Ph.D. Nicole Wilkes, MPH Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a prevalent social problem This research brief provides a snapshot of preliminary re- in the United States. It is estimated that 25% to 54% of wom- sults from a research project conducted by the CVI between en and 13% to 28.2% of men experience IPV victimization October 2014 and June 2016 to increase understanding of during their lifetime (Black et al., 2011; Bonomi et al., 2006; strangulation incidents in Travis County, Texas. Thompson et al., 2006). One particularly lethal form of IPV, strangulation, has been implicated in 10% of all violent deaths Sample each year in the United States. Moreover, the 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) indicates The current report draws from a convenience sample of that nearly 1 in 10 women have experienced strangulation by case files at the Travis County District Attorney's (DA's) an intimate partner (Black et al., 2011). office. Of the cases included in the project, strangulation incidents occurred between 2010 and 2015. Cases were Strangulation is defined by, "reduced blood flow to or from selected based on two criteria: 1) representation from each the brain via the external compression of blood vessels in the of the five years, and 2) to ensure that approximately half neck" (Sorenson, Joshi, & Sivitz, 2014, p. 54) and can be either the cases contained a supplemental strangulation form manual, through the use of one's hands, or, less commonly, (SSF). Included cases had the case outcome decided at the through the use of a ligature, such as a belt. Strangulation can time of data collection. Overall, data were collected from a be either lethal or non-lethal, as it only takes approximately 4 total of 254 case files. Table 1 presents sample characteris- pounds of pressure to the jugular veins and 5 to 11 pounds of tics. pressure to the carotid arteries for an individual to lose con- sciousness, and death can occur in as few as 3 to 5 minutes Table 1. Sample Characteristics (Sorenson et al., 2014). Variable % Range Mean (SD) Non-lethal strangulation can cause a number of deleterious Offender Age 17.6-64.5 31.47(10.73)