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HB 2395

Improving public safety by deterring assaults involving strangulation or suffocation.

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Travis Couture and 4 co-sponsors

Washington bill establishes enhanced criminal penalties for assaults using strangulation or suffocation to improve victim protection and deter serious harm.

First reading, referred to Community Safety, Justice, & Reentry.
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Bill Summary · HB 2395

Legislative bill overview

HB 2395 seeks to enhance public safety protections by establishing or strengthening criminal penalties specifically related to assaults involving strangulation or suffocation. The bill addresses a form of violence that law enforcement and victim advocates identify as particularly dangerous and predictive of escalating harm. By creating distinct legal consequences for these specific assault methods, the legislation aims to deter such conduct and provide clearer prosecutorial tools.

Why is this important

Strangulation and suffocation assaults are considered high-risk indicators for domestic violence escalation and homicide. Research shows these attacks are significantly more likely to result in severe injury or death compared to other assault types. Clear statutory language and proportionate penalties can improve law enforcement response, prosecution success rates, and victim protection strategies.

Potential points of contention

  • Sentencing severity: Questions about whether new penalties should be misdemeanor, felony, or graduated based on injury severity, and whether they duplicate existing assault statutes or create necessary specificity
  • Evidentiary challenges: Difficulty proving strangulation occurred (lack of visible marks, delayed medical assessment) may create prosecutorial burdens or conviction disparities
  • Scope definition: Debate over whether the law covers accidental suffocation, medical contexts, consensual activities, or only intentional criminal conduct—and how clearly those distinctions are written

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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