 Break the Cycle believes everyone has the right to safe and healthy relationships. Abuse doesn’t wait. It starts when dating starts. One in three teens experiences some type of dating abuse in the US. That’s more than 1.5 million young people a year. Teen dating violence can be just as destructive as adult domestic violence, if not more so. It can lead to suicide, drug abuse, teen pregnancy, additional violence behavior, eating disorders and school drop-out. Young people face added barriers to escaping abuse, like limited access to transportation, money, services and the legal system. Two thirds of victims never report the abuse to anyone – Dating violence is a silent epidemic. Education is the key to preventing domestic and dating violence. Break the Cycle works with schools to provide teens with the tools and knowledge necessary to develop essential life skills and transition successfully into adulthood. The education programs empower youth to maintain healthy relationships and turn schools into safe environments where youth can report abuse. Break the Cycle has issued its annual state law report card and Oklahoma received an “A” rating. In Oklahoma, minors can obtain Protective Orders (POs) and courts can issue POs against minor abusers. Oklahoma also allows people in dating relationships to seek Pos against their abusers. Oklahoma law allows minors to petition for a PO on their own behalf at age sixteen. Minors under the age of sixteen must have an adult household member, among others, petition for a PO on the minor’s behalf. The law does not specify whether the parent or guardian of a minor petitioner must be notified when a PO is issued. A petition for a PO against a minor respondent must be filed in juvenile court. A judge may issue a PO when the respondent has physically abused, sexually abused, threatened to physically abuse, stalked or harassed the petitioner. The statute may recognize other forms of abuse not specifically listed. The court may order the respondent to participate in counseling or batterers’ intervention program and or other relief within the court’s discretion. In Oklahoma all minors can consent to HIV/STI testing and treatment, prenatal care, adoption (must be 14 or older), and medical care for child. Physicians may inform a minor’s parents. Some minors may consent to contraceptive services. Parental consent and notice is required for abortion services. Oklahoma law does not provide for school response to dating violence. Break the Cycle would improve Oklahoma law by allowing all minors to petition for PO on their own behalf, ensure all PO cases involving minors are heard in the same court as adult domestic violence victims and mandate dating violence education for al middle schools and high schools. “ UNTIL I VISITED BREAK THE CYCLE’S WEBSITE, I had no idea what dating abuse was. My school never talked about it. I don’t understand how so many teens are unaware of this issue – we’re about to head to college and we don’t have all the tools we need to take care of ourselves! ” - Female, Age 17 |