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  Domestic violence leaves a mark on the whole family.

Sub House Bill 10

On March 17, 2010,
a new law was signed to give juvenile judges new tools to protect teens.

This bill authorizes juvenile court judges to issue and enforce protection orders defending one minor from another when one has been accused of committing felonious or aggravated assault, menacing by stalking, a sex crime, or a similar offense.

Link to Sub HB 10




Sub House Bill 19

Referred to as the Tina Croucher Act,
this bill was signed on December 28, 2009.
In part, it requires public schools to incorporate dating violence into their policies prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying and requires school districts to include dating violence prevention education in the health curriculum.

This law went into effect March 29, 2010.

Link to Sub HB Bill 19


OCJS logo
 What do we mean by dating abuse?    

Dating abuse isn't an argument every once in a while, or a
bad mood after a bad day. Dating abuse (or relationship abuse)
is a pattern of controlling behavior that someone uses against a girlfriend or boyfriend.

Abuse can cause injury and even death, but it doesn't have to be physical. It can include verbal and emotional abuse - constant insults, isolation from family and friends, name-calling, controlling what someone wears, and can also include sexual abuse. (Love Is Respect, National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline 2009)

  • 1 out of 11 teens report being a victim of physical abuse each year. (Choose Respect 2009)
  • 1 in 5 teens who have been in a serious relationship report being hit, slapped or pushed by a partner. (Liz Claiborne Inc. 2006)
  • 1 in 3 girls who have been in a serious relationship say they have been concerned about being physically hurt by their partner. (Liz Claiborne Inc. 2006)
  • About 10% of students nationwide report being physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend in the past 12 months. (Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance-United States, 2009. MMWR 2010; 59(No.SS-5)
  • One in three teens will experience abuse in a dating relationship. (2007 Break The Cycle)
  • 1 in 3 teenagers report knowing a friend or peer who has been hit, punched, kicked, slapped, choked or physically hurt by their partner. (2007 Love is Not Abuse)
  • Nearly 1 in 4 girls who have been in a relationship (23%) report going further sexually than they wanted as a result of pressure. (Liz Claiborne Inc. 2006)
  • 1 in 4 teens who have been in a serious relationship say their boyfriend or girlfriend has tried to prevent them from spending time with friends or family; the same number have been pressured to only spend time with their partner. (Liz Claiborne Inc. 2006)
  • Of the teens in abusive relationships, fewer than one in three (32%) confide in their parents about their abusive relationship (Impact of the Economy and Parent/Teen Dialogue on Dating Relationships and Abuse, 2009; Conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited for the Family Violence Prevention Fund and Liz Claiborne).
  • Women age 16 to 24 experience the highest rates of rape and sexual assault. (Rand, Michael, 2009, Criminal Victimization, 2008, U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics)
  • People age 18 and 19 experience the highest rates of stalking. (Baum, Katrina, Catalano, Shannan, Rand, Michael and Rose, Kristina, 2009, Stalking Victimization in the United States, U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics)
  • Nearly three in four tweens (72%) say boyfriend/girlfriend relationships usually begin at age 14 or younger. (Liz Claiborne Inc. study on teen dating abuse conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited, February 2008).
  • Two in five of the youngest tweens, ages 11 and 12, report that their friends are victims of verbal abuse in relationships. (Liz Claiborne Inc. study on teen dating abuse conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited, February 2008)
  • 62% of tweens(age 11-14) who have been in a relationship say they know friends who have been verbally abused (called stupid, worthless, ugly, etc.) by a boyfriend/girlfriend. (Liz Claiborne Inc. study on teen dating abuse conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited, February 2008)
  • Only half of all tweens (age 11-14) claim to know the warning signs of a bad/hurtful relationship. (Liz Claiborne Inc. study on teen dating abuse conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited, February 2008)
  • Teens who are victims are more likely to be depressed and do poorly in school. (Banyard VL and Cross C. Consequences of teen dating violence: Understanding intervening variables in ecological context. Violence Against Women. 2008:14(9):998-1013
  • 37% of teen girls have sent or posted sexually suggestive text, email or IM (instant messages). (The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and CosmoGirl.com, 2008, Sex and Tech: Results from a Survey of Teens and Young Adults)
  • A survey of 7th graders in a high-risk community found that more than one in three boys (35.2%) and nearly one in four girls (24.1%) reported being a victim of physical dating violence in the past year. (Swahn MH, Simon TR, Arias I & Bossarte RM. 2008. Measuring Sex Differences in Violence Victimization and Perpetration Within Date and Same-Sex Peer Relationships. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 2008:23(8):1120-1138)
  • A survey of 7th graders in a high-risk community found that more than one in three boys (35.2%) and nearly one in four girls (24.1%) reported being a victim of physical dating violence in the past year. (Swahn MH, Simon TR, Arias I & Bossarte RM. 2008. Measuring Sex Differences in Violence Victimization and Perpetration Within Date and Same-Sex Peer Relationships. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 2008:23(8):1120-1138.)
According to the Ohio Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2007:
  • 9.7% of Ohio high school students report dating violence.
  • 10.2% of Ohio high school students reported having been “physically forced to have sexual intercourse.”
  • Latino students (18.6 percent) were significantly more likely than white students (9.1 percent) to have been forced to have sexual intercourse.
According to the 2011 Youth Risk Behavioral Survey (YRBS) 85% of teens say they have at least one adult they feel comfortable seeking help with when they have a problem. As trusted adults this statistic reveals a great opportunity for parents, teachers, counselors and others who work with teens to continue to create an open, safe haven for our youth as they seek help and guidance in life's struggles which may include teen dating violence and other unhealthy relationships.

Encourage teens that you know and love to embrace the Teen Dating Bill of Rights and Pledge
 (Courtesy of Love Is Respect from the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline 2009)

I HAVE THE RIGHT:
To always be treated with respect.
To be in a healthy relationship.
To not be hurt physically or emotionally.
To refuse sex or affection at anytime.
To have friends and activities apart from my boyfriend or girlfriend.
To end a relationship.

I PLEDGE TO:
Always treat my boyfriend or girlfriend with respect.
Never hurt my boyfriend or girlfriend physically, verbally, or emotionally.
Respect my girlfriend's or boyfriend's decisions concerning sex and affection.
Not be controlling or manipulative in my relationship.
Accept responsibility for myself and my actions.

Healthy Relationships
(This is good for teens to ask themselves or for parents to talk about with their children.)

Do you sometimes wonder if the things happening in your relationship are normal?
Does the way your boyfriend or girlfriend treats you bother you?

Here are some questions that may help you decide if your relationship is healthy or not:

Do you:
  • Ever feel guilty about having your own friends and own interests?
  • Often feel pressured to spend time with your boyfriend/girlfriend when you'd rather do something else?
  • Keep opinions or concerns to yourself to make things easier?
  • Change your behavior to avoid fighting with your boyfriend/girlfriend?
Does your boyfriend/girlfriend:
  • Get jealous when you talk to friends of the opposite sex?
  • Complain about or try to control what you wear?
  • Call or text you excessively?
  • Push you to do things you aren't sure you want to (like sex, drugs)?
If you answered "yes" to at least one of these questions, or if you have your own questions about healthy relationships, please call the loveisrespect.org hotline at 1-866-331-9474. Or text "loveis" to 77054. They are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Resources for Teens:
  • Teen Dating Violence Hotline - 1-800-331-9474/1-800-331-8453 TTY
  • National Domestic Violence Hotline - 1-800-799-SAFE
  • Local Victim Service Agencies/Shelters
  • Guidance Counselors
  • Family/Friends


OVC
 OVC Directory of Crime Victim Services, an Online Resource.

Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services   |  1970 W. Broad St.  |  Columbus, OH 43223   |  614-466-7782 |  www.ocjs.ohio.gov