Bill to add strangulation to list of violent crimes passes committee

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  • A bill that would classify strangulation during a domestic violence incident as a violent crime.
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OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill that would classify strangulation during a domestic violence incident as a violent crime unanimously passed the House Judiciary Committee.

House Bill 3371 by State Rep. Ross Ford (R-Broken Arrow) modifies the penalty for assault and battery with intent to cause great bodily harm by strangulation or attempted strangulation against an intimate partner or family member.

The measure increases the punishment of not less than one year nor more than ten years of imprisonment. The punishment for a second or subsequent offense is increased to a punishment of not less three years nor more than twenty years imprisonment. The measure also adds domestic abuse by strangulation to the list of violent crimes.

“I have no idea why domestic violence offenses were not initially classified as violent crimes,” Ford said. “Violence is in the very name of the offense and at the heart of the nature of the crime. I am working to correct that, and starting with this bill that deals with strangulation is an absolutely necessary first step.”