This document discusses domestic violence intervention and prevention. It identifies unique issues in teen dating violence like lack of experience, peer pressure, and romanticized views of relationships. It emphasizes the importance of early intervention, education, and promotion of healthy relationships to address this issue. It also highlights the benefits of collaborative responses between criminal justice and social services to provide victim support in one location. Overall, the document outlines continuing efforts to address domestic violence through law changes, victim rights expansion, coordinating councils, and educational focus to confront and prevent domestic violence.

1. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Intervention & Prevention Learning Unit 8 A mini content lecture designed as a supplemental learning resource for CRJ 461 by Bonnie Black.

2. Learning Unit Objectives Identify the unique dynamics in teen dating violence. Explain the role prevention and education plays in decreasing domestic violence. Describe why coordination is important and ways it can be accomplished. 2

3. 1. Early Intervention: Teen Dating violence 1 in 5 female high school students report being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner. 50% of reported date rapes are teen victims. 1 in 3 teens know a friend or peer who has been physically hurt by a dating partner. Only 33% of teens in abusive relationships told anybody. Source: “Teen Dating Violence Facts,” American Bar Association; National Teen Dating Violence Prevention Initiative; www.clotheslineproject.org/teendatingviolencefacts.pdf 3

4. Unique issues in teen dating violence Have little experienced with dating. Are pressured by peers and others to find a boyfriend (or girlfriend). Being in a dating relationship can bring popularity and status. Seek independence from parents; want to solve own problems. Have "romantic" story book views of love. Emotional intensity increases quickly; madly in love after one week. Source: Taken in part from http://www.acadv.org/dating.html 4

5. Unique issues continued Avoiding abuser even when relationship ends is difficult if they go to same school or have common friends; risk increases. Victim perceives jealousy, possessiveness and controlling behavior as signs of love and commitment. Relationships are typically short but intense. 5

6. Dating Bill of Rights - I have the right to: 6 Ask for a date Refuse a date Suggest activities Refuse any activities, even if my date is excited about them Have my own feelings and be able to express them Say, "I think my friend is wrong and his actions are inappropriate" Source: Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence: http://www.acadv.org/dating.html

7. I have the right to: Tell someone not to interrupt me Have my limits and values respected Tell my partner when I need affection Refuse affection Be heard Refuse to lend money Refuse sex any time, for any reason Have friends and space aside from my partner 7 Source: Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence: http://www.acadv.org/dating.html

8. Solutions Dating Bill of Rights What a dating partner is entitled to Teen Safety Planning Options that can be identified and used in the future Parental Intervention Like drugs, need to openly talk about date violence and watch for signs Education School programs, public service announcements to increase awareness and help teens understand the issue; encourages teens to tell and talk to parents 8

9. Solutions continued Promotion of Healthy Dating Relationships Identification of what a healthy relationship is and early warning signs of an abusive one. National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Campaign Designated by Congress to unite communities and criminal justice agencies to publicly profile the problem and solutions (February). 9

10. The expected Results "Teen dating violence victimizes students in their middle and high school years, a time during which they are developing attitudes and behaviors that will shape later relationships………If we work together now, we can make a real difference in the lives of teens, and improve their prospects for a healthier adulthood.“ Regina B. Schofield, Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. Source: www.ncjrs.gov/html/ojjdp/news_at_glance/217167/sf_5.html 10

11. 2. Law changes: D.V. Continues to evolve Does Arizona have a spousal rape law? Think about it! 11

12. Law Changed in 2005 Spousal rape, a Class 6 felony with an option to lower it to a class 1 misdemeanor was eliminated. Sexual assault, a Class 2 felony includes all rapes regardless of who the perpetrator is. Crimes by spouses no longer minimized by relationship. A crime is a crime! 12

13. Federal laws: Violence Against Women Act Scope of laws continue to expand including firearm violations, stalking, interstate violations of protective orders, Full Faith and Credit, victim rights and petitioning options for battered immigrant women and children. Continued funding to support training and programs. New International Violence Against Women Act 2010 Congressional proposal. Do we have a global responsibility to end intimate violence? 13

14. 3. Collaborative Response: Mesa Police Example Center Against Family Violence “The Center Against Family Violence, where criminal justice joins forces with helping professions; where police and social workers, prosecuting attorneys and on-site physicians, work together to reduce the trauma of physical and sexual abuse; where victimization is transformed into empowerment.” Source: www.mesaaz.gov/police/cafv/default.aspx 14

15. Benefits of a One Stop Coordinated Response Reduces revictimization Personnel trained in family violence One stop forensic evidence gathering and interviewing Medical exam conducted on site rather than in hospital Services in one place to assist victim including crisis intervention Nurturing and less threatening environment 15 This model has been duplicated in several other local cities and nationwide.

16. 4. Victim Rights:Continues to expand New – Enforcing Rights Arizona Attorney General’s Office Hiring of a Victim Rights Enforcement Officer to address complaints and hold criminal justice system accountable 16 Holding the system accountable!

17. 5. Coordinating Councils: AZ Supreme Court Efforts Supreme Court Committee on Impact of Domestic Violence and the Courts (CIDVC) “….acknowledge the severity of D.V. problem in AZ increase awareness of victim resources provides sanctions for criminal conduct enhance follow-through by law enforcement to enforce orders of protection assess state and local proceedings and services and make recommendations for system changes…..” (emphasizing victim safety and offender accountability). Source: www.azcourts.gov/cscommittees/CommitteeontheImpactofDVandtheCourts.aspx 17

18. What is the Council Accomplishing? Go to www.azcourts.gov/cscommittees/CommitteeontheImpactofDVandtheCourts.aspx Scroll down and click on 2010 Minutes and read the minutes from the last meeting Interesting!! 18

19. 6. Educational Focus: ASU Law School and D.V. Creation of ASU’s Diane Halle Center for Family Justice “Diane Halle, President of the Bruce T. Halle Family Foundation, said the center will serve an urgent need. ‘Providing access to justice both for victims of family violence and for other poor families who are in need of legal service is often a matter of life and death," Halle said. "To make real change happen for our families, we need to make sure that all who are in need have access to justice. There is real urgency to take action now.’" Source: http://asunews.asu.edu/20100211_familyjusticecenter 19

20. What does the future hold? Things to Consider: D.V. offender registration? (New York) Lifetime probation for D.V. offenders? Increased media exposure to D.V.? New academic classes related to victimization and D.V.; degrees in Victimology? More or less murder-suicides and homicides related to D.V.? What else? 20

21. Conclusion New intervention approaches continue to emerge to confront and prevent D.V. Early intervention with children and teens is critical to break the cycle of violence that moves from one generation to the next. Confronting the problem in isolation is ineffective; a collaborative system approach is needed to protect victims and hold abusers accountable. Research needs to continue to better understand the effectiveness of the criminal justice system’s response to D.V. 21