As a detective in the Child Abuse Unit, I had the difficult job of working with adolescent victims of crime. In addition to investigating sexual and physical abuse cases, I occasionally worked on child abuse cases that stemmed from domestic violence incidents. In some of these cases, children were victims of strangulation. While very little data exists about the prevalence of strangulation in child abuse, our knowledge of child abuse would suggest that pediatric strangulation is grossly underreported. Little progress has been made regarding pediatric strangulation since the late 1990s when Gael Strack began taking a deeper dive into understanding “choking” cases, as we used to call it. Back then, Strangulation cases often went overlooked because we didn’t know the right questions, what symptoms to look for nor did we understand why their statements were jumbled and out of order. I believe the same problem exists today with pediatric cases. In many cases, when women are victims of domestic violence, children can also become victims. We cannot solely focus on women and disregard children when we are addressing domestic violence and strangulation cases.
Back in 2017, I was tasked with investigating a child abuse case where a 12-year-old-boy was strangled by his stepfather. Let’s call him Johnny. Johnny was strangled while he was trying to stop his stepfather from strangling his mother. After reviewing the officer’s body camera footage, I was able to see exactly what happened during the initial investigation. I witnessed what the officer did correctly and what could have been done. During the initial investigation, the patrol officers followed the San Diego County Strangulation Protocol when interacting with the child’s mother. Unfortunately, when the child was questioned, the same protocol was not implemented. Watching the bodycam, I could see the child victim tried to tell his story to the responding officer, but due to lack of training, the officer did not know the right questions to ask, what to look for or think about seeking medical attention for Johnny.
Thankfully, this case ultimately resulted in a conviction; however, I wonder how many similar cases are occurring and not being reported or properly investigated due to a lack of training? As a detective, and as a former patrol officer myself, I know that well-intentioned police officers may not question children because they are unsure how to or even know they were permitted to so.
Every patrol officer should apply our approach of “Always Ask and Do More” to children who are being strangled. Here are some of my tips.
1. Always Talk to Children. Remember that the first encounter with the child may be the only chance you have to speak to him or her. Don’t miss the opportunity to talk to children because you’re afraid to make a mistake. They have information that they may be willing to disclose. You might be the first adult that has ever given them that opportunity. Learn about Minimal Facts Interviews (Build rapport, Ask limited questions and Provide a respectful ending) and incorporate them in all your cases where children are victims or witnesses.
2. Work with Child Welfare Services. CWS may know this family better than the police department and have more information to provide you that could help your investigation. CWS also has resources that police officers do not have.
3. Encourage Immediate Medical Attention. While a child’s anatomy spares him/her some of the consequences we see in adult strangulation, it also increases the risk of injury. Swelling to the neck can obstruct the airway. Under California law, law enforcement officers have a duty to warn victims of the danger of strangulation and recommend medical attention. Kids need medical attention too.
4. Always Ask. While initial interviews are important, they don’t take the place of forensic interviews. Forensic interviews will provide some of the best, most reliable information from the child but always ask children if anyone has placed any pressure on or around their neck.
5. Look for Signs and Symptoms of Strangulation. Children may be traumatized from the abuse and/or fearful to tell you what happened. Look for the subtle signs and symptoms of strangulation -- there may be a bruise behind the ears or the child’s voice maybe raspy.
6. Work with Others. Collaborate with your community partners. No single agency is equipped to handle family violence cases alone. It is important to know where your expertise ends and when to collaborate with another agency. Family Justice Centers and Child Advocacy Centers are good resources for any investigator.
7. Apply the Training you have Received for Adult Strangulation to your Pediatric Cases. Many of the best practices we implement while investigating adult strangulation cases also apply to pediatric strangulation. It is time to update our pediatric protocols to include non-fatal strangulation.