Officials: New DV Protocols in Texas Lead to More Cases

New domestic violence protocol for investigating strangulation cases in Austin, Texas has lead to rise in the number of charges and higher quality cases.

Photo: Austin PD FacebookPhoto: Austin PD Facebook

In the nine months since Austin (Texas) police began taking more detailed accounts of strangulation in assault cases, police officials told the Austin American Statesman they have seen a rise in the number of charges filed and an increase in the quality of cases.

Austin police began using forms that detail strangulation injuries more thoroughly in July. In the nine months of available data since then, the number of strangulation cases filed increased 29 percent over the previous nine months. The charge, a third-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, is a relatively new offense in Texas that went into effect in 2009 and usually is committed in a family violence scenario.

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