The Texas Governor’s Family Violence Criminal Homicide Prevention Task Force has turned its attention to strangulation as a leading indicator of domestic violence homicides, and Texas Advocacy Project CEO Heather Bellino is on the team pushing for clearer responses. The group, which previously tackled stalking, is gathering evidence and policy ideas to take to the Texas Legislature before its final report in 2027. Survivors, advocates and first responders across Texas are watching because strangulation often hides serious harm that doesn’t show up right away.
The task force is studying strangulation because it frequently marks a dangerous escalation in domestic violence. “That is the largest way for somebody to exert power and control over somebody else,” said Texas Advocacy Project CEO Heather Bellino. That line sums up why advocates say the law must treat strangulation differently and why responders need training that reflects the reality of the injury.
Bellino explained that even survivors often mislabel what happened, which can stall help and allow violence to continue. “We will have victims say, ‘Oh, he choked me, but that happened once.’ Choking is when something’s caught in my throat,” Bellino said. “Strangulation is when somebody impedes your airways and blocks your jugular so your blood flow is gone.”
One of the practical problems the task force aims to fix is how strangulation cases look at the scene. When a person’s breathing is suppressed, their instinct is to fight back, and that can leave visible marks on the attacker. “If your breath is being impeded, you’re going to fight. It’s your human instinct,” Bellino said. “So there are likely going to be injuries on the perpetrator and not the victim. Because this might not show right away.”
That dynamic leads to tragic missteps, including survivors being arrested while the true aggressor leaves with visible scratches. Bellino stressed the need for first responders and investigators to ask the right questions and recognize the signs that a seemingly uninjured person may actually be the victim. “We need to train everybody to ask the right questions in order to make sure that the next abuse does not occur,” Bellino said.
Education for survivors is another core recommendation the task force is developing. Strangulation can cause internal damage that appears later, so advocates urge survivors to seek medical attention even if they feel fine at first. The task force wants outreach that explains those hidden risks clearly, plus protocols that ensure medical exams and proper evidence collection follow suspected strangulation incidents.
After finishing its work on strangulation, the task force will study firearm homicides and then compile a full report to present to the Texas Legislature at the end of 2027. Meanwhile, people in need can contact local and statewide resources for help: Family Violence Prevention Services at 210-733-8810, Bexar County Family Justice Center at 210-631-0100, or the Texas Advocacy Project at 800-374-HOPE for legal and social services across Texas. If it’s an emergency, call or text 911 right away.
