South Carolina is the only state in the country without a separate strangulation definition or charge, and advocates have been trying to change that for eight years.
“We are always the last one, or one of the last states to move forward,” said Sara Barber, executive director of the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. “It’s just frustrating.”
Brian Bennett, a former law enforcement officer and founder of Clearview Justice Training and Consulting, has become one of the leading voices in passing strangulation legislation.
His journey began when he attended an in-depth strangulation training, opening his eyes to dangers and signs of strangulation he had never heard of.
“It made me recall instances in my career where I likely left people in danger because I didn’t know,” Bennett said.
Strangulation doesn’t always appear to the naked eye. To combat this, police are experimenting with thermal imaging technology to show marks that aren’t always clear.
This could help officers like Bennett, who didn’t always know w
Police are also experimenting with thermal imaging technology to show marks on someone’s neck that may not appear to the naked eye, adding evidence to prosecute a case.
When someone is strangled, it can cause loss of vision and vocal damage in the short term, but the long-term effects are what caught Bennett’s attention.
When the brain is deprived of oxygen, the risk of stroke, seizures, and brain damage increases.
“In the hours, days, weeks, months later, they can actually die from the injuries related to strangulation,” Bennett said.
Additionally, non-fatal strangulation is the No. 1 predictor of future homicide, and a woman who survives being strangled is 800% more likely to be killed later.
A study by Alliance for HOPE also found that when police are killed in the line of duty, 80% of suspects had a history of domestic violence, and 30% had a history of strangulation.
The proposed strangulation legislation would create a felony charge for strangulation. Currently, the act is prosecuted under assault.
Passing legislation would also require South Carolina to track cases around the state and require agencies to undergo new training.
That new training would educate hospital staff, therapists, teachers, and community members on the signs of strangulation.
“Even friends and family with the right information can intercede,” Bennett said.
Police are also experimenting with thermal imaging technology to show marks on someone’s neck that may not appear to the naked eye, adding evidence to prosecute a case.
The bill will go to the floor in January when the legislative session begins at the State House, where lawmakers will decide if the bill should be prioritized, or sit in committee.
