DSHS students hold mock trial for dating violence
“Do you know what is special about the month of February?” I asked the 16 year-old teenage felon I was mentoring in lockdown at the Hays County Juvenile Center. The young girl answered without hesitation, “It’s ‘Dating Violence and Prevention Awareness Month.’ The kids inside are wearing orange shorts [rather than issued gray] to show their support.”
In my seven years of listening to teens-gone-wrong, regardless of their home environment, nearly everyone has told me of a time when they were playfully innocent, before they were led down the path of corruption by peers who contributed to dating violence, and sexual submission to older men at an early age. Identity is woefully violated and altered, as the girl treads an anxious crooked path.
All believe they will die young. – Sharon Carter
At the Dripping Springs City Council hearing on Feb. 11, Dan O’Brien gratefully accepted a Proclamation proclaiming the month of February as “Dating Violence Awareness & Prevention Month in the City of Dripping Springs.” As a civil attorney living in Dripping Springs, with an impressive list of accolades and volunteer community service, O’Brien accepted the Proclamation as a longstanding board member of the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center.
“Thank you, Mayor, Council and City staff for taking the time to acknowledge the problem of dating violence and show support of HCWC and its educational endeavors to promote healthy relationships for our local teenagers,” O’Brien said. “Issuing proclamations helps HCWC raise awareness about issues of abuse and how HCWC serves residents of Dripping Springs when we aren’t able to share specific examples of who and how we help clients. [The HCWC is secretly located, identities protected.] Dripping Springs is not immune from social challenges. Last year, HCWC served 62 clients from this area.”
In February 2013, Dripping Springs High School (DSHS) was selected to participate in a project where students volunteer to perform “roles” in a “Hays County Dating Violence Mock Trial” at the Hays County Court House. It is now an annual school event. The “Mock Trial” revolves around a case (on record) where a defendant is accused of committing some sort of relational violence, anything from cell phone text harassment to verbal, emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. The simulated trial is performed in the presence of lawyers, judges and court officials. It is an excellent opportunity for students to see inside the Texas Judicial System. The goal is to provide students with the tools necessary to make good decisions and handle difficult situations.
DSHS Course Director of the “Dating Violence Mock Trial” and President of the Hays County Bar Association Sarah Brandon said, “All schools in the state of Texas are required to have some sort of curriculum to educate and inform students about dating violence; however, most school districts do not. Not only does the Dripping Springs School District (DSISD) provide this curriculum, but the DSISD supports a student-led organization “Dating Violence Awareness Board.” It is my goal to have every school district in the State of Texas have this program. This program is a collaborative effort with DSHS, HCWC and our amazing attorney volunteers.”
The DSHS students who applied to the program this year, meet every Thursday after school in the lecture hall to prepare for court with licensed attorneys from the area, and under the guidance of sponsor teacher Nicole Watts. Positions of lawyers, witnesses, jurors, and historians are filled by student volunteers. Judge John Burns, Dan O’Brien, Barbara Stroud and Elaine Brown work with the “student attorney” to prepare for the trial and give assistance to the students. Once court is in session, recently retired Judge Brenda Smith will be presiding over the six 12-panel juries made up of mixed male/female, all male, or all female teenagers.
“I think the mock trial has benefitted the high school as a whole,” said O’Brien. “The number of students involved in the program has grown steadily and, each year, at least 125 students participate as jurors, attorneys, or witnesses. With the entering and graduating DSHS classes, it would be fair to estimate that over the course of a two to three years, we are reaching at least several hundred different students. The different perspectives of the jurors does spur conversation and reflection on how to participate in healthy relationships. Many of the participants later serve as board members and officers on the “Dating Violence Board” at the high school.”
Director of Community Partnerships Melissa Rodriquez, of HCWC, collaborates with the high school to make this project a success, and then makes a presentation to the 125 students involved, once the verdicts are read.
Rodriquez has recommendations for high school teenagers who want to engage in healthy dating habits. She says that discussion, between the boy and girl who are dating, is key to defining a healthy relationship. Also feedback from parents is essential. Talk openly. “Often what is considered a “red flag” to one, is perfectly fine to the other,” said Rodriquez. “We have services and material at HCWC which is helpful in defining how to respect one another. We also have an educational website, stopthehurt.org, with a relationship quiz for youth.
“There are obvious things like put-downs, name calling, cursing, making the other feel bad, hitting and shoving, but also less obvious control issues like jealousy, or lack of support for the other’s goals.”
If a girl has felt safe with a date in the beginning, but issues are starting to erupt, HCWC never wants victims to feel like it’s on them to prevent their victimization. The behavior solely falls on the person committing the behavior, and sometimes on observers of such dangerous behavior who don’t do anything to help or report it to a trustworthy supportive advocate.
“There’s no 100% way to be fully prepared but it is important to talk about it ahead of time and do some safety planning,” Rodriquez said. “For example, let someone know where you are and who you’re with, like a friend, supportive adult, or parent. Have a “code” that you can text to let them know you’re feeling unsafe. Another important point is to empower youth is to listen to their gut instinct, and if something doesn’t feel right, then follow that instinct and find ways to leave that situation safely - whether it’s simply saying to their date, “I’m ready to go home now” or “think I’ll call for a ride”. Often, a girl can feel like it’s rude or impolite and can find themselves in danger because they don’t feel empowered to simply leave the situation.”
Turning a blind eye and hoping things will get better as dating continues to progress can shackle girls to habitually unhealthy relationships, not easy to stay or leave. Calmly discuss needs, and work together with a partner toward a healthy respectful dating status, but when it is all work and no progress, it is a good reason to part ways.
The “Mock Trial” event will be held on Feb. 27, from 9am to 3pm at Hays County Court House, located at 712 Stagecoach Trail, San Marcos, Texas 78666. Businesses interested in sponsoring, help fund the cost of materials provided to the students, may call the Law Offices of Sarah K. Brandon, P.C. 512-477-4707. The public is welcome to attend the “Mock Trial.”