Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman has released what his office calls the state’s first toolkit to combat the crime of strangulation. Coleman, who was at UK Chandler Hospital Wednesday for the announcement, said the project was about collaboration.
“We have assembled a collaborative team and word as well as deed of medical professionals, of law enforcement, of advocates, of prosecutors, to take on one of Kentucky's most pressing challenges.
It’s called “Responding to Strangulation in Kentucky: Guidelines for Prosecutors, Law Enforcement, Health Care Providers and Victim Advocates.” Coleman said it built on a 2019 law passed by the General Assembly that elevated strangulation to a serious felony. He said people who strangle others are among the most dangerous criminals.
“Research has now made clear that when a man puts his hands around a woman's neck, he has just raised his hand and said, ‘I am a killer,’ he's more likely to kill police officers, to kill children and to later kill his partner.”
Coleman said the manual will help law enforcement officers and medical professionals recognize the visible and non-visible signs of strangulation.
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