KNOWLEDGE IS POWER


This is what we know

Animal Cruelty as a Gateway Crime - Issue Overview 
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I. Understanding the link between animal cruelty and violence towards humans 
1. Law Enforcement recognize the link between animal cruelty and violence 
  • FBI is tracking animal cruelty
    • Recognizing animal cruelty as a precursor crime or indicator crime, in 2016 the FBI started tracking animal cruelty as “group A offenses” as they do offenses like homicide and arson. The National Sheriffs’ Association requested this addition. Police departments across the U.S. report these offenses to the NIBRS (National Incident Based Reporting System). Unfortunately many localities do not yet report these statistics. 
  • In July 2018 the Joint Counterterrorism Assessment Team (JCAT) of the Office of National Intelligence issued a statement advising law enforcement that animal cruelty could be a warning behavior for terrorism and or acts of premeditated violence against humans. 

2. Research supports a strong link between animal cruelty and other crimes including domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse and other violent behavior.
  • A national crime record review found 70% of those charged with animal cruelty had other reports of violent behavior. 
  • Animal cruelty is a better predictor of sexual assault - with 100% of sexual homicide offenders having committed prior acts of animal cruelty 
  • A 2013 study found 43% of those who committed mass school shootings had also committed animal cruelty (usually to cats and dogs) 
  • A 2017 study showed 89% of women who had companion animals during an abusive relationship reported their animals were threatened, harmed or killed by their partner. 
  • A 1983 study found animal cruelty occurred in 88% of the homes where child abuse was being investigated. 
  • A landmark 1997 study found that animal abusers are 5 times more likely to harm other humans. (Northeastern University, Massachusetts SPCA)  
  • Chicago police reported 35% of warrants for animal cruelty also resulted in seizure of narcotics and weapons, 82% of cruelty offenders had priors for battery. 
  • If a child is cruel to animals it is a sign the child has suffered serious abuse.

3. Humane education as a tool to addressing animal cruelty and domestic violence 
  • Humane education in schools aims to prevent cruelty before it starts. 
  • Law enforcement across the U.S. started working with animal welfare groups to conduct humane education for officers to educate on the links between animal cruelty and other violent crimes and how to approach cruelty cases. 
  • Some states have laws addressing humane education and humane treatment of animals in schools (CA, FL, IL, ME, MA, NH, NJ, N, OR, PA, WA, WI
  • For more info see the National Humane education Society nhes.com
  • Does Aransas County law enforcement conduct humane education training? 

II. Resources on the link between animal cruelty and violent criminal behavior
National Sheriffs’ Association. 2018. Animal Cruelty as a Gateway Crime. Washington, DC: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. 
www.sheriffs.org (National Sheriffs’ Association) 
Nationallinkcoaltion.org (Animal cruelty as indicator crime) 
thln.org (Texas legislative updates and tethering law info) 
aldf.org (Animal Legal Defense Fund)
http://neacha.org/resources/prosecutors.dogfight.pdf 
ncovaa.org National Coalition on Violence Against animals (Startling statistics)
https://www.fbchhs.org/animal-services