Media Advisory: Announcing Project Launch of Interagency Response to Strangulation
Last year, over three dozen Utah women were killed by an intimate partner. While homicide data reveal a startling correlation between forms of domestic violence and a woman’s risk for future lethality, a lack of training and protocols for danger assessment on the part of community responders leads to missed opportunities for intervention. Of the most dangerous prognoses is non-lethal strangulation, for although it leaves little observable evidence, it increases a woman’s risk of being murdered more than sevenfold. To increase offender accountability and enhance women’s safety, a community-wide effort of first responders, medical professionals, service providers, and government agencies brought together by a state leader in women’s domestic violence service, YWCA Utah, will launch an interagency two year pilot project Thursday, August 9th at the Reducing Domestic Violence Deaths: An Integrated Multi-disciplinary Approach to Non-Fatal Strangulation Summit. The summit is not only an educational opportunity; it is one of the first steps in the development of a coordinated community response to intimate partner violence and strangulation.FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMedia AdvisoryAugust 7, 2018Media Contact: Annie Studer 801-537-8610 or astuder@ywcautah.orgDay of Media Contact: Matthew Rojas 385-228-2365 or matthew.rojas@slcgov.com
Announcing Project Launch of Interagency Response to Strangulation
Increase Offender Accountability and Enhance Women’s Safety
What: Last year, over three dozen Utah women were killed by an intimate partner. While homicide data reveal a startling correlation between forms of domestic violence and a woman’s risk for future lethality, a lack of training and protocols for danger assessment on the part of community responders leads to missed opportunities for intervention. Of the most dangerous prognoses is non-lethal strangulation, for although it leaves little observable evidence, it increases a woman’s risk of being murdered more than sevenfold. To increase offender accountability and enhance women’s safety, a community-wide effort of first responders, medical professionals, service providers, and government agencies brought together by a state leader in women’s domestic violence service, YWCA Utah, will launch an interagency two year pilot project Thursday, August 9th at the Reducing Domestic Violence Deaths: An Integrated Multi-disciplinary Approach to Non-Fatal Strangulation Summit. The summit is not only an educational opportunity; it is one of the first steps in the development of a coordinated community response to intimate partner violence and strangulation.When & Where: Thursday, August 9, 20188:00 AM – 5:00 PMReducing Domestic Violence Deaths: An Integrated Multi-disciplinary Approach to Non-Fatal Strangulation SummitSalt Lake County District Attorney’s Office35 E. 500 S. Salt Lake City, UT 84111slcfamilyjusticecenter.org/non-fatal-strangulation-summitMedia Ops: 8:00 – 8:15 AM Welcome & Intro by Mayor Jackie Biskupski
8:15 – 9:00 AM Mayor Biskupski, Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill will be available for interviews
Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Alliance for HOPE International Gael Strack and Dr. Bill Smock is the Police Surgeon and directs the Clinical Forensic Medicine Program for the Louisville Metro Police Department will also be available for interviews
Relevant Stats: One in three Utah women will experience rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in her lifetime—a rate 3.6 percent higher than the national average.Since 2000, more than 40 percent of Utah adult homicides have been domestic violence-related; of those, approximately 80 percent are associated with reports of earlier violence.Adults are not the only victims: each year, approximately 80 Utah children are present at the murder/attempted murder of their mothers.Childhood exposure to family violence is associated with an increased risk for emotional/behavioral problems, as well as for experiencing domestic violence as an adult.
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About YWCA Utah: YWCA Utah advances the well-being of women in Utah through safety, opportunity, and advocacy. Since 1906 YWCA Utah has advanced the well-being of women in key dimensions of their lives through direct programming, education, and advocacy designed to encourage their aspirations, protect their rights, and meet their changing needs. The YWCA’s enduring belief has been that better lives for all women lead to stronger families and communities. Current direct programming focuses on violence against women, early childhood education, and women’s leadership development. Research, education, and advocacy and public policy efforts focus on developing the Utah Women’s Well-Being Initiative. For more information, visit ywcautah.org.