Course detail: Trauma Informed Response and Strangulation: A Hidden Danger

This two-part training will cover Trauma Informed Response-Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Victims and Strangulation: A Hidden Danger.

Part one focuses on Trauma-Informed Responses to Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Victims. Domestic violence and sexual assault are two of the most complex crimes we are called upon to respond to and investigate. The complexities of these crimes and the impacts of trauma on a victim require us to be better informed and to think broadly and comprehensively during our response and/or investigation. This course will help you examine rape myths and the potential for bias to impact investigations of domestic violence and sexual assault; teach you about how the brain and body react to trauma, and the impact of trauma on memory; help you understand how victim trauma can impact the response, investigation, and prosecution of domestic violence and sexual assault; help you understand offender behaviors; and guide developing trauma-informed interview strategies that capture the evidence necessary to enable a successful prosecution. 

Part two focuses on strangulation and how strangulation can be the precursor of a possible homicide. The attendees will become familiar with the signs, symptoms, and terminologies of strangulation and how to use lethality assessments to help victims understand the lethal situation they might be facing with a strangler. The dangers of minimization during a strangulation investigation with an emphasis on the crime scene and interview. A trauma-informed approach to interviewing victims will also be introduced with an understanding of trauma and the brain. 

Core Competencies: 

  • Participants will employ best practices as they investigate any crime from its beginning to its eventual disposition; either as an individual or part of an investigatory team.

Course Objectives: 
  • Participants providing service to domestic violence and/or sexual assault victims will recognize and understand victim trauma. 
  • Participants will gain knowledge of effective approaches and interview skills to enhance response, investigations, and prosecutions. 
  • Participants will understand the correlation between strangulation and homicide.
  • Participants will be able to identify the signs, symptoms, and terminology of strangulation.
  • Participants will be present with the use of the lethality assessment to assist victims possibly at risk.
  • Participants will understand the danger of minimizing a strangulation investigation.
  • Participants will understand what the trauma of strangulation does to the brain.


Who Should Attend: 
  •  Law Enforcement Officers - regardless of rank or assignment 
  •  Prosecutors 
  •  Victim Advocates 
  •  Forensic Lab Personnel 

 Instructional Methods: 
  •  Lecture 
  •  Scenario 

 Course Requirements: 
  • 100% participation in group work and discussion
Fitness Level Necessary for Successful Completion: Low Active






Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend University of Kansas sponsored events. If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in an event, please email KLETC  or call 620.694.1400  at least three weeks before the first day of the event. Some events may require notice earlier than three weeks and require you to contact a specific individual; if so, that information is provided in the event-specific information.


Notice of Availability of the KLETC Annual Security and Fire Safety Report:

The University of Kansas has determined that the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) main campus in Hutchinson and its regional sites in Dodge City, Hays, and Parsons are separate campuses. This determination was made in consultation with the Department of Education. The report is available online t: https://civilrights.ku.edu/clery.

The report contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking; the procedures the institution will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred On-Campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Non-Campus buildings or property owned or controlled by the institution or a recognized student organization; and on Public Property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years.

 A paper copy of the report will be provided upon request. If you would like to receive a paper copy, you can request that a copy be mailed to you by calling 785-864-6414 or emailing civilrights@ku.edu or arrange for pick-up at a KLETC location.

Available sessions

This course contains no sessions
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