WRAP Joins in Month-Long National Campaign to Raise Awareness About Domestic Violence
Local Efforts to Shine Light on Strangulation
JACKSON, Tenn. - Each year in October, advocates, survivors and supporters
recognize October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This year, WRAP (Wo’Men’s
Resource and Rape Assistance Program) will be shining a light on the dangers of strangulation.
More prevalent than most realize, domestic violence is experienced by one in four women and
one in seven men in their lifetimes. Anyone, regardless of gender, race, sexual identity or
orientation, or socio-economic status, can become a victim of domestic violence. While most
commonly associated with acts of physical violence, domestic violence can include verbal,
emotional and financial abuse, destruction of property, isolation from friends and family, and
harassment and intimidation, to name a few.
For its strangulation awareness campaign, WRAP created an informational brochure that allows
victims to track any side effects and document any visible injuries. Visible injuries only show up
in half of all cases of strangulation, making symptom documentation a valuable tool for victims
to share with medical professionals as well as law enforcement. WRAP will also provide
information about the dangers of strangulation on its Facebook page at WRAPWestTN.
“We were alarmed by the number of reported strangulations in the domestic assault cases we
were seeing in Jackson-Madison County,” said Jenci Spradlin, Domestic Violence Program
Manager for Madison County at WRAP. “Strangulation is a severe and dangerous form of abuse
and we have found it challenging to impress those dangers upon victims. We hope our efforts
can provide valuable information to victims and also alert those who have either never reported
to law enforcement or never sought support from WRAP that they are 800 percent more likely to
be a victim of homicide by the same partner in the future. We are here to help.”
“Our officers on the scene and investigators are documenting reports of strangulation far too
often,” said Capt. Danielle Jones, Commander of the Jackson Police Department’s Domestic
and Sexual Violence Investigation Division. “Reports for the last few years are averaging around
150 and we know that most victims never report to law enforcement at all. It is staggering to
consider that these numbers represent people who are at such a high risk of being murdered by
their partner in the future.”
According to the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention, a program of Alliance for HOPE
International, strangulation assaults in domestic violence have been front and center in the
national conversation with the strangulation murder of Gabby Petito. Their research and
advocacy supports that the most dangerous domestic violence offenders strangle their victims,
as well as the most violent rapists. They found that stranglers are more likely to kill police
officers, children and later kill their partners.
“Domestic abuse remains a hidden problem in our communities,” said Mamie Hutcherson,
Executive Director of WRAP. “It is characterized by silence—silence from those who suffer,
silence from those around them, and silence from those who perpetrate abuse. This silence is
corrosive; it leaves women, children, and men carrying the burden of shame. It prevents them
from speaking out about their abuse and it prevents them from getting help. At its worst, it can
be and has been fatal to our families in West Tennessee.”
WRAP advocates located throughout its 19 county service area in West Tennessee are
collaborating with the counties they serve in a variety of ways, including proclamations, walks
and special events. Local businesses interested in supporting the wellbeing of their employees,
can contact their local advocate for an “Employer Toolkit” filled with resources. WRAP will
partner across the West Tennessee area to GO PURPLE to support domestic violence
survivors on Oct. 14. Pictures of individuals or groups wearing purple can be shared to WRAP‘s
Facebook page at /WrapWestTN using the hashtag #WRAPGOESPURPLE.
WRAP (Wo/Men's Resource & Rape Assistance Program) is a non-profit agency that provides
trauma informed supportive services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and
their families. Services are free and confidential and include a 24/7 helpline, counseling, safety
planning, safe homes, hospital and court accompaniment, advocacy, and resource linkage.
WRAP serves 19 counties in West Tennessee. For more information, visit their website at
www.wraptn.org, their Facebook page at WrapWestTN, or call their 24/7 helpline at 800-273-
8712.
