U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE NOTES NATIONAL TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS PREVENTION MONTH

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced that February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month (TDVAPM), a time to raise awareness about this all-too common issue, focus efforts on ending the violence, and share resources for teens experiencing violence, survivors, and their communities.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the U.S. Virgin Islands is proud to stand with survivors and share a new resource funded by the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), the Teens and Technology Resource Series.

There is a significant intersection of technology and teen dating violence, and misuse of technology

is an increasingly common tactic on the part of harmful partners. The Teens and Technology resources aim to help adults who teach, work with, and care for teenagers understand technology from their perspective to empower teenagers to safely navigate relationships and technology use.

These resources include examples of technology abuse, uses and misuses of social media applications, and five ways to engage with young people.

“Our teenage population should not be subjected to dating violence. Those who attempt to control

a relationship through physical or emotional abuse lack the moral character to preserve healthy relationships,” said U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert. “Speaking about teen dating violence, abuse, and unhealthy relationships is key in providing young people with the tools necessary to build and maintain healthy, meaningful relationships.”

“The pandemic has made everything more challenging – for children and youth, advocates across

the country have reported an uptick in online abuse as younger folks spend more time spent online,” said OVW Principal Deputy Director Allison Randall. “The Teens and Tech Resource Series can help adults meaningfully engage with young people, empowering them to recognize abuse and unhealthy relationships, prevent future violence, and use technology safely.

Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month gives us the opportunity to put a spotlight on these projects, as well as OVW’s year-round commitment to ending dating violence.”