Georgina McGrath says she still has to sleep some nights with the windows open, the cold air in her lungs a reminder that she害羞草研究所檚 far away from the man who used to strangle her. On those nights, she said, she can still feel his hands on her neck.
Though the Newfoundland and Labrador woman has been a vocal advocate for survivors of intimate partner violence in the decade since her ex-partner last squeezed her throat, her voice still breaks when she talks about it.
害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 so much fear,害羞草研究所� she said in an interview. 害羞草研究所淵ou害羞草研究所檙e just waiting for them to end it, you can feel yourself falling 害羞草研究所� you can feel yourself draining away.害羞草研究所�
The 54-year-old businesswoman originally from Labrador City is adding her voice to those of experts across the country who say police officers, judges and lawyers need specialized training about strangulation in intimate partner violence cases.
Amanda McCormick, an associate criminology professor at the University of the Fraser Valley, says strangulation is a key warning sign that someone is at a much higher risk of being killed by their intimate partner.
害羞草研究所淭he thing about strangulation is it害羞草研究所檚 quite hidden: a lot of abusers will use this as a form of power and control, but it often doesn害羞草研究所檛 leave any visible injuries,害羞草研究所� McCormick said in a recent interview, adding: 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 one of the best predictors of homicide or femicide.害羞草研究所�
The federal government updated the Criminal Code in 2019 to add strangulation to the definition of assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm. The change means domestic abusers can now be charged specifically for assault by strangulation.
However, McCormick said that without adequate training about the offence, it may not be used properly. Strangulation doesn害羞草研究所檛 always leave marks on a victim害羞草研究所檚 neck, so police, prosecutors and even health-care workers need to know to ask about it. And they need to be able to recognize possible signs, such as a victim having a cough or a sore throat.
害羞草研究所淚f they don害羞草研究所檛 know how to investigate and document a strangulation, they害羞草研究所檙e going to be recommending a lesser assault,害羞草研究所� she said.
She noted, too, that the change in the Criminal Code came right before the COVID-19 pandemic upended routines across the globe, and there may not be much awareness in the justice system that assault by strangulation is now a defined offence.
Recognizing strangulation, or knowing how to spot it, can be a matter of life and death. McCormick pointed to a 2008 National Library of Medicine study showing that someone in an abusive partnership is more than seven times more likely to be killed by their partner if they害羞草研究所檝e been strangled by that partner in the past.
There are other health risks that are not well understood, McCormick added. Being strangled increases a victim害羞草研究所檚 chance of having a stroke, or developing brain injuries or mental health problems from a lack of oxygen, she said.
McCormick害羞草研究所檚 latest work looks at the sentences judges are handing down for assault by strangulation, which comes with a maximum of 10 years in prison. So far, she害羞草研究所檚 found that offenders are largely receiving light sentences, despite the grave risk they pose to their partners.
害羞草研究所淪o there害羞草研究所檚 a complete discord here,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淧olice need training. Lawyers need training. Judges need training. Health-care practitioners, for the most part, need training.害羞草研究所�
Last month, the California-based Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention held a two-day training session in Ottawa for police officers, medical workers, military personnel and others who work with victims. 害羞草研究所淭he most dangerous domestic violence offenders strangle their victims,害羞草研究所� institute co-founder Casey Gwinn said in a news release issued by the Ottawa police.
McGrath, who now lives in rural Newfoundland, testified on April 11 before a Senate committee studying a bill to establish a national strategy for the prevention of intimate partner violence. She hopes that strategy would include training across the justice system about intimate partner violence, and about the risks and red flags posed by strangulation.
McGrath said she would like to see special courts established to deal with intimate partner violence cases, where judges and lawyers would be trained about the issues involved and better equipped to make decisions that protect the victim from further harm. She害羞草研究所檇 also like to see governments make it mandatory for health-care workers to report strangulation in domestic cases to police, just as they must when there is evidence of stabbing or shooting.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Justice Department said Friday that it will look into such a policy.
However, McCormick worries that victims will be more afraid to seek medical help for strangulation if they know police will be involved. 害羞草研究所淭hese women need to see a doctor,害羞草研究所� McCormick said. 害羞草研究所淚f they are deterred from doing so, that poses significant risks to their life and their health.害羞草研究所�
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