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Domestic Homicide Review Analysis Series
The IFAS Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) series incorporates an analysis of DHRs exploring suffocation and strangulation as methods of killing and as methods of non-fatal abuse within the histories of homicide victims and perpetrators. Through these reports, we aim to broaden the understanding of strangulation within the context of homicide, specifically domestic homicide. In addition, we aim to consider what can be done to prevent such deaths in the future. When strangulation is used non-fatally as a form of abuse, we aim to raise awareness of its risks which include a profound impact on a victim’s health and wellbeing, as well as the risk of homicide.
Report 1: An analysis of Domestic Homicide Reviews with fatal suffocation and smothering
Published February 2024 The first report in this series is an analysis of 16 DHRs where the method of killing was suffocation or smothering. This report provides a detailed exploration into victim/perpetrator demographics and offers new insights into suffocation and smothering in domestic homicide, including the associated patterns and characteristics of such cases. The report includes key recommendations for both research and practice.
Report 2: An analysis of Domestic Homicide Reviews with a history of non-fatal strangulation
Published February 2024 The second report in this IFAS series is an analysis of DHRs with a history of non-fatal strangulation. This report provides a detailed exploration into the victims and perpetrators of non-fatal strangulation, reporting of non-fatal strangulation to the police and the use of formal domestic abuse risk assessments in cases of non-fatal strangulation. This report makes recommendations for future research and the role of DHRs in disseminating learning around the high-risk nature of non-fatal strangulation to enhance professional responses to disclosures of non-fatal strangulation.
Report 3: An analysis of Domestic Homicide Reviews with fatal strangulation
Published August 2024 The third report in this series is an analysis of 75 DHRs where the method of killing was strangulation. This report provides a detailed exploration into victim and perpetrator demographics, the circumstances of the homicides, and an analysis of domestic abuse histories. The final section considers the DHR process as a whole and provides an analysis of recommendations made with across the cases. The report includes key recommendations for both research and practice.
Report 4: A Comparative Analysis of 150 Domestic Homicide Reviews
Published October 2024 The fourth report in the IFAS Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) series is a comparative analysis of 75 domestic homicide reviews (DHRs) where the method of killing was strangulation and 75 DHRs where the method of killing was stabbing with a sharp instrument. Through this analysis, we identified features in domestic homicide by strangulation that are specific to this method of killing compared to another form of killing such as stabbing by a sharp instrument.
