The Darker the Skin, the Greater the Disparity? Why a Reliance on Visible Injuries Fosters Health, Legal, and Racial Disparities in Domestic Violence Complaints Involving Strangulation
- 25 January 2023
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Journal of Interpersonal Violence
- Vol. 38 (11-12), 7602-7629
- https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605221145726
Abstract
The reliance on external injuries for justice is misguided given that assault injuries may be less visible among victims of color due to increased melanin in the skin. To date, however, less is known whether racial/ethnic disparities extend to officers' identification of signs of nonfatal strangulation (NFS). The current study estimates the extent of NFS indicators identified by officers who completed a standardized strangulation assessment in 133 family violence complaints. Breathing difficulties were the most common symptoms identified by officers (98%), followed by external signs (89%), and symptoms of impeded blood circulation (87%). Compared to cases involving White/Asian survivors, officers were less likely to identify external injuries on Black survivors' neck, chin, and chest/shoulders. While racial/ethnic differences did not emerge for symptoms of disrupted airflow, Hispanic survivors were twice as likely to report losing control of bodily functions. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.Keywords
This publication has 49 references indexed in Scilit:
- Use of an Alternative Light Source to Assess Strangulation VictimsJournal of Forensic Nursing, 2013
- The Biomechanical Properties of the SkinDermatologic Surgery, 2013
- Living Victims of StrangulationAmerican Journal of Forensic Medicine & Pathology, 2010
- Review and Analysis of Laws Related to Strangulation in 50 StatesEvaluation Review, 2009
- Non-fatal Strangulation is an Important Risk Factor for Homicide of WomenThe Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2008
- Forensic sexual assault examination and genital injury: is skin color a source of health disparity?The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2008
- Relationship of Genital Injuries and Age in Adolescent and Young Adult Rape SurvivorsJournal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 2008
- The Effects of Age and Ethnicity on Physical Injury from RapeJournal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 2006
- MULTIPLE ROUTES TO DELINQUENCY? A TEST OF DEVELOPMENTAL AND GENERAL THEORIES OF CRIMECriminology, 1997
- Strangulation: A review of ligature, manual, and postural neck compression injuriesAnnals of Emergency Medicine, 1984