NCJ Number
226264
Date Published
February 2008
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This guide for addressing teen dating and sexual violence in a school setting discusses schools’ legal obligations to prevent violence on school grounds that emerges from teen dating relationships and proposes a comprehensive schoolwide plan for preventing and responding to teen dating and sexual violence.
Abstract
Federal and State law (California) both require that students be safe and protected at school, which imposes potential liability on schools for injuries arising out of teen dating violence in a school setting. In complying with this legal obligation, schools should develop a set of objectives and guidelines on what the school community can do to prevent and respond to this form of violence. A comprehensive school-wide plan for addressing this issue should include a Teen Dating and Sexual Violence Policy and Protocol, as well as a training curriculum for students, teachers, and staff. Suggestions are offered for the content of school policies and protocols. There are also recommendations for what schools can do to link the victims, perpetrators, and bystanders of teen dating violence to community services. A key component of school efforts to prevent teen dating and sexual violence is to provide a school curriculum on how to identify abuse and build healthy relationships. Issues that should be addressed in such a curriculum are listed. Schools should also have mandatory training for all faculty and staff, in order to make them aware of teen dating and sexual violence and the policies and protocols the school has established to address such violence in the school setting. Appended relevant Federal and California laws, a sample teen dating and sexual violence prevention policy, a sample teen dating and sexual violence protocol, and suggested curricula