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How Bad is the violence?

Bree Moore’s parents are glad you asked!

 

The appalling statistics here in Alaska are proof we desperately need to shift our focus to prevention; because how our state is currently handling domestic violence awareness is not working! This is clearly shown by the statistics:

 

In Alaska

  • #1 in men killing women. In 2014, the year Bree Moore was killed, Alaska ranked #1 in men killing women at 3.15 women per 100,000, a rate over twice the national average. Alaska has ranked first in the nation in the past four years and these rates in Alaska are increasing.  In the most recent year reported, 2017, Alaska is now three times the national average at 3.96 per 100,000. (Violence Policy Center- When Men Murder Women) http://www.vpc.org/revealing-the-impacts-of-gun-violence/female-homicide-victimization-by-males/

       http://www.ktva.com/story/37361490/alaska-deemed-most-dangerous-state-in-us-in-new-report

      https://www.cnn.com/2014/02/03/opinion/sutter-alaska-rape-list/index.html

One study found that 75 percent of teens that took a school course on teen dating violence said it helped them learn about the signs of abusive relationships.[xxv]  Since teens spend more time in school than at home with their parents, schools and school-based curriculum have a profound ability to influence teens during their formative years when they are developing behaviorally and emotionally. Teachers can address these issues directly with teens, promote positive alternatives to violence, and address gender-based beliefs that can lead to violence. 

 

In a study by the Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk, “The Need for School-Based Teen Dating Violence Prevention”, it states, “Teen dating violence is a public health priority. It is widespread, prevalent, and negatively affects adolescents’ mental, physical, and social health. Thus, we are in critical need of programs aimed at preventing dating violence and promoting healthy relationship skills. Not only will this improve the health and quality of life of children and adolescents, it has the potential to curb the prevalence of adult domestic violence. We firmly believe that the benefits of addressing dating violence (e.g., improved health) will result in improved academic performance and reduced truancy.  The costs of implementing a prevention program is justified given the scope of teen dating violence, potential improvements in adolescent health outcomes, decreased need for youth to utilize services in the future (e.g., medical, behavioral, criminal justice), and the perceived need and appropriateness among educators for school-based prevention programs.”[xix]

 

“It is the opinion of the subcommittee that we need greater involvement of schools and the educational system in our drive to address teen dating violence.”  - Teen Dating Violence: Next Steps in our National Response, A Report on Teen Dating Violence of the U.S. Justice Department

Nationwide

  • Girls and young women between 16-24 are four times more likely than the general population to be victims of partner violence.[i]

  • Dating violence is the leading cause of injury to women.[ii]

  • An intimate partner committed 22% of all homicides against females 16-19.[iii]

  • 100% of middle-schoolers thought that possessiveness and jealousy are part of true love.  Based on testing done by Dr. Elizabeth Miller, a leading expert on teen dating violence.[iv]

  • 80% of girls who have been physically abused in their intimate relationships continue to date their abusers.[v]

  • Half (50%) of all reported date rapes occur among teenagers.[vi] 

  • Violent behavior normally begins between the ages of 12-18.[vii] 

  • One in three adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner, a figure that far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence.[viii]

  • 40% of teenage girls ages 14-17 say they know someone their age that has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend.[ix]

  • One in 10 high school students has been purposefully hit, slapped or physically hurt by a boyfriend.[x]

  • 80% of teens that had been in an abusive relationship turned to a friend for help, not their parents or an authority figure.[xi]

  • The severity of intimate partner violence is often greater in cases where the pattern of abuse was established in adolescence.[xii]  About 72% of eight and ninth graders are “dating.”[xiii]

  • 81% of parents either believe teen-dating violence is not an issue or admit they don’t know if it’s an issue.[xiv]

  • Violent relationships in adolescence can have serious ramifications by putting the victims at higher risk for substance abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behavior and further domestic violence.[xv] 

  • Being physically or sexually abused makes teen girl six times more likely to become pregnant and twice as likely to get a sexually transmitted infection.[xvi] 

  • Girls who were recent targets of dating violence were 61% more likely to attempt suicide.[xvii]

  • The cost of domestic violence to the US economy is more than $8.3 billion.[xviii]

“If the numbers we see in domestic violence were applied to terrorism or gang violence, the entire country would be up in arms, and it would be the lead story on the news every night.”

- Former Rep. Mark Green, Wisconsin

Links:

[i] Women Helping Women, Teen Dating Violence

http://www.womenhelpingwomen.org/what-is-abuse/teen-dating-violence/

 

[ii] Women Helping Women, Teen Dating Violence

http://www.womenhelpingwomen.org/what-is-abuse/teen-dating-violence/

 

[iii] Teen Dating Violence Facts

http://www.clotheslineproject.org/teendatingviolencefacts.pdf 

Bureau of Justice Statistics Press Release, “Violence Rates Among Intimate Partners Differ Greatly According to Age,” (10/29/01).

 

[iv] Shannon Mehner, Teens often view abusive dating behavior as normal. Medill Reports Chicago.

http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=163015

[v] Kristin’s Krusade, Domestic Violence Statistics

http://www.kristinskrusade.org/resources/dv-statistics/ City of New York, Teen Relationship Abuse Fact Sheet, March 1998

 

[vi] Teen Dating Violence Facts

http://www.clotheslineproject.org/teendatingviolencefacts.pdf

California Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CALCASA) 2002 Report: Research on Rape and Violence, http://www.uasasonoma.org/teensite/statistics.htm#Child/Teen%20Vicitmization

 

[vii] Dating Abuse Statistics,

http://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/Dating_Abuse_Statistics.pdf

Rosado, Lourdes, The Pathways to Youth Violence; How Child Maltreatment and Other Risk Factors Lead Children to Chronically Aggressive Behavior. 2000. American Bar Association Juvenile Justice Center.

 

[viii] Dating Abuse Statistics,

http://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/Dating_Abuse_Statistics.pdf Davis, Antoinette, MPH. 2008.

 

Interpersonal and Physical Dating Violence among Teens, The National Council on Crime and Delinquency Focus http://www.nccd-crc.org/nccd/pubs/2008_focus_teen_dating_violence.pdf 

 

[ix] Women Helping Women, Teen Dating Violence

http://www.womenhelpingwomen.org/what-is-abuse/teen-dating-violence/

 

[x] Love is Respect, Dating Abuse Statistics,

http://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/Dating_Abuse_Statistics.pdf

Grunbaum JA, Kann L, Kinchen S, et al. 2004. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 2003. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 53(SS02); 1-96.

 

[xi] Soroptimist International of the Americas, Learn About Teen Dating Violence, Its Risk-Factors and Consequences, As Well As Preventative Efforts

https://www.soroptimist.org/whitepapers/whitepaperdocs/wpteendatingviolence.pdf

 

[xii] Love is Respect, Dating Abuse Statistics,

http://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/Dating_Abuse_Statistics.pdf

S.L. Feld & M.A. Strauss, Criminology, 27, 141-161, (1989).

 

[xiii] Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, Dating Violence Research

http://www.nj.gov/lps/dcj/hrc/pdfs/Teen-Dating-Violence_research .pdf

 

[xiv] Love is Respect, Dating Abuse Statistics,

http://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/Dating_Abuse_Statistics.pdf

Women’s Health,” June/July 2004, Family Violence Prevention Fund and Advocates for Youth,

http://www.med.umich.edu/whp/newsletters/summer04/p03-dating.html.

 

[xv] Love is Respect, Dating Abuse Statistics,

http://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/Dating_Abuse_Statistics.pdf

Jay G. Silverman, PhD; Anita Raj, PhD; Lorelei A. Mucci, MPH; Jeanne E. Hathaway, MD, MPH, “Dating Violence

Against Adolescent Girls and Associated Substance Use, Unhealthy Weight Control, Sexual Risk Behavior, Pregnancy,

and Suicidality” JAMA. 2001;286(5):572-579. doi:10.1001/jama.286.5.572

 

[xvi] Love is Respect, Dating Abuse Statistics,

http://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/Dating_Abuse_Statistics.pdf

Decker M, Silverman J, Raj A. 2005. Dating Violence and Sexually Transmitted Disease/HIV Testing and Diagnosis

Among Adolescent Females. Pediatrics. 116: 272-276.

 

[xvii] Soroptimist International of the Americas, Learn About Teen Dating Violence, Its Risk-Factors and Consequences, As Well As Preventative Efforts

https://www.soroptimist.org/whitepapers/whitepaperdocs/wpteendatingviolence.pdf Reuters, Suicide Attempts by Teens Linked with Assault. June 4, 2007. Accessed on February 14, 2013 from http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/06/04/us-suicide-assault-idUSKRA47436320070604>

 

[xviii] NCAVD, National Statistics

http://www.ncadv.org/learn/statistics  

 

[xix] Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk, Need for School-Based Teen Dating Violence Prevention

http://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1136&context=childrenatrisk

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