Attorneys

“Teen Dating Violence” (TDV) is a scourge that is as epidemic, harmful, and potentially lethal as adult domestic violence. Unchecked TDV can entrench a lifetime pattern of perpetration by abusers and acceptance of abuse by victims. Use of Social Media in Teen Dating Violence explains how teens can use social media to perpetrate intimate partner violence and how courts can use social media to help figure out the facts at hand in cases of TDV.

The Teenage Brain: New Knowledge from Neuroscience explains the science behind why teens' brains are different than adult brains, how neuroscience affects teen behaviors, and why developmental differences between teens and adults have consequences for cases in which TDV is present

The Dynamics and Consequences of Teen Dating Violence provides necessary background information about this pervasive problem and serves as an introduction to the rest of NJEP's TDV information and resources sheets.

Orders of Protection for Victims of Teen Dating Violence is a resource for judges and court system professionals about how orders of protection can be used to help victims of TDV and about how to craft the protective orders in such a way that ensures the victims' safety in all areas of their lives.

LGBTQ Issues in Teen Dating Violence is an information sheet explaining the problems faced by LGBTQ victims of TDV that are specific to their LGBTQ identities. The information sheet also makes clear that LGBTQ teens face TDV/intimate partner violence at the same rates as heterosexual teens, and it discusses the complexities in LGBTQ teens' lives which may lead them to not report instances of TDV.

Holding Teen Dating Violence Offenders Accountable is an information sheet for judges and court system that professionals which provides guidance on issues related to sentencing and dealing with offenders in cases where TDV is present. The information sheet includes the following topics: Disposition and Sentencing Considerations Generally; How Does Brain Development Factor In?;Approaches to Disposition Hearings & Sentencing; and Tailoring the Response.

Young people, 12 to 19 years old, experience the highest rates of rape and sexual assault. Youth, 18 to19 years old, experience the highest rates of stalking. Approximately 15.5 million U.S. children live in families in which intimate partner violence occurred at least once in the past year. There are a large number of young people in this country whose lives are affected – sometimes shaped – by violence. Teen dating violence and other forms of exposure to violence are a huge problem in this country. The research below indicates a strong connection between dating violence, exposure to other forms of violence, and unhealthy behaviors.