Police hold Q&A on teen dating violence
The Woodland Police Department, along with Empower Yolo, held a Facebook live Q&A session focused on teen dating violence for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.
Teen dating violence involves a multitude of issues, such as physical, sexual and psychological abuse. It also includes stalking.
Sgt. Victoria Danzl, who hosted the meeting Wednesday evening, highlighted that social media can also be used for dating violence in controlling how a partner uses their phone, forced sexting or blackmail using previous virtual conversations.
During the first Q&A question, one person asked whether or not one can press charges for these crimes.
“Consequences can be very severe,” said Woodland Police Officer Stephanie Wilson. “It can be viewed and charged as pornography either possessing it or sending it out, they call it distributing it. So either one can be charged as pornography.”
The exact statistics surrounding teen dating violence are unclear. Some research has found that 1 in 3 teenage girls report abuse, while the CDC reports that 1 in 11 girls and 1 in 15 boys report physical violence.
The livestream focused not only on what teen dating violence is, but also what resources are available for teenagers in these situations.
Two representatives from Empower Yolo — a local nonprofit that works with victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking and child abuse — were in attendance.
Paola Pretell, a youth and parent engagement specialist with After Safety and Enrichment for Teens, an Empower Yolo program that operates out of the Woodland Joint Unified School District, spoke on the many ways in which ASSETs is working to bring awareness to teen dating violence.
ASSETs has planned out four different weekly themes for the month, including a creative workshop on healthy relationships held Wednesday in which participants could express their feelings through art.
Celina Alveraz, the associate director of Empower Yolo, explained how the organization works with survivors. They offer counseling, support groups, accompaniment to interviews with law enforcement and medical exams and restraining order assistance.
“Sometimes we work with teens directly, sometimes we work with the parents and provide them information and education around teen dating violence, the cycle of violence, why people stay,” Alveraz said. “There’s a lot of education needed for understanding teen dating violence, and we’re happy to provide that support.”
Wilson provided further information on how school resource officers and school counselors. Wilson explored how school officers work together with counselors if necessary.
“Most of the time when it comes to a point that involves an officer, we’ll bring in a bunch of resources and make sure that whatever process it is that we may go through, whether its counseling or taking further steps that you are supported on every single level,” Wilson said.
Teen dating violence is most likely underreported, according to Wilson. In 2020, she said that the Woodland Police Department took about 10 reports regarding sexual assault, sexting, or harassment among teenagers.
“I know personally there’s way more than 10 so a lot of things are unreported, which is important, because if they’re unreported that means they’re afraid to come forward,” Wilson said.
Survivors may also not come forward due to a fear that their partner will get arrested, and Alveraz noted that Empower Yolo has resources to help with that. The organization has a batter’s intervention program, and the Yolo Conflict Resolution Center offers restorative justice for relationship problems.
Danzl asked the group what the best way to support individuals going through teen dating violence.
Wilson said that it’s vital to keep confidentially, unless the person is in direct physical or mental harm. Alveraz noted the importance of continuously sticking by the person, and always being prepared to offer support.
“Of course, we want to support them and let them share at their own pace,” Alveraz said. “So that might be something like ‘I’m always here for you if you need me to listen’ we want them to feel in control of what they’re sharing. It can be frustrating. We know that with the cycle of abuse that often times survivors may not leave that relationship immediately.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing teen dating violence, contact Empower Yolo at empoweryolo.org, or their 24 hour crisis line at (530)662-1133.
“I know personally there’s way more than 10 so a lot of things are unreported, which is important, because if they’re unreported that means they’re afraid to come forward.” — Woodland Police Officer Stephanie Wilson