County Attorney Press Releases

High School Students to Receive Training on How to Prevent Dating Violence

Members of the El Paso County Attorney's Domestic Violence Unit will offer an educational awareness seminar about dating violence to more than 600 Americas High School students.

The seminar called "Dating Violence: Awareness, Prevention and Reporting" is offered through out the year to hundreds of local middle and high school students to raise awareness about this social problem. Teenagers can choose healthier relationships when they learn to identify the early warning signs of an abusive relationship, understand that they have choices, and know that they are valuable individuals who deserve to be treated with respect. 

According to a nation-wide study conducted in 2000 by the Bureau of Justice, one third of all high school students have been or will be involved in an abusive relationship. Other statistics also reveal the seriousness of the problem. For example, in1995 seven percent of all murder victims were young women who were killed by their boyfriends.

"Some teenagers are surprised when they hear that dating violence is a serious problem in our community. They assume that because El Paso is a small, mostly Hispanic community, the problem is not as serious as in other parts of the country. In reality about 20 % of all the domestic violence victims that request protective orders in our office, are teenagers," said El Paso County Attorney José R. Rodríguez.

The dating violence seminar will be offered to three groups of students on November 1, from 8:45 AM until 4:00 PM at Americas High School, 12101 Pellicano. Although the event is not open to the public, school officials will allow the members of the media to be present.

WHO:       County Attorney's Office-Family Violence Unit

WHAT:     Seminar on Preventing Dating Violence

WHEN:     Wednesday, November 1, 2006 at 8:45 AM

WHERE:  Americas High School

12101 Pellicano

INFO:       Christina Rodriguez (High School Counselor) 937-2842

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Dating Violence Seminar Press Release.pdf