Politics & Government

General Assembly Takes Aim At Cyberbullying And Teen Violence

In nearly lock-step, bipartisan fashion the General Assembly moves to further protect teens from the perils of dating violence

There are three bills before the General Assembly that address issues associated with teen dating and associated violence. 

HB 6629 would allow teens to secure a restraining order against an abusive teen dating partner. HB 6053 would revise the state's bullying law to include teen dating violence. And SB 1138 targets cyberbullying. The three proposed bills should get a floor vote in the coming weeks.

“The whole idea here is how teens can protect themselves through the legal system,” said Bob Kocienda, chair of the Norwalk-based Center for Youth Leadership

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HB 6629 would allow teens experiencing constant threat of present physical pain or physical injury, a pattern of verbal intimidation, threatening or stalking by family or someone in, or recently in, a dating relationship, to apply for restraining order “regardless of the age of such persons.”

Only two other states, Rhode Island and California, allow teens to get restraining orders against other teens. 

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Under the bill, police must inform victims of abuse about options, including restraining orders and where to find domestic violence help. The Judiciary Committee unanimously passed the bill out of committee. 

“Anything that strengthens anti-bullying efforts is very positive,” said Dani Gorman, head of the Youth Services Bureau in Waterford. “A lot of young people struggle with healthy and unhealthy relationships.” 

“We understand a restraining order is a piece of paper and can’t stop bullying or can’t stop a knife,” Kocienda said. “But it’s important to break the cycle. Teen dating violence is often a strong precursor to adult domestic violence.” 

Although widespread, most teens remain silent about teen dating violence. Indeed, 81 percent of parents surveyed said it isn’t an issue, or didn’t know it was one, according to the Hartford-based Center for Children’s Advocacy

“It’s a very under-reported  crime we know it’s going on,” said Detective Bryan Pelligrini, of the Clinton Police Department. “When we started talking to kids they’ll tell us what’s going.” 

Violence in teen dating relationships is linked with increased risk for substance abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behaviors, pregnancy, and suicide, said Jeanne Milstein, state Child Advocate, in testimony. 

According to Office of Fiscal Analysis HB 6629 would cost $1.58 million for FY12 and $1.58 million for FY13. This cost to the Judicial Department is so it can include trauma-informed care to victims as part of the functions of local family violence intervention units. Because of that associated cost, the Connecticut Conference on Municipalities doesn’t support the bill. 

Beth Ann Stewart, director of Stonington’s human services department, said that 30 percent of court cases stem from domestic violence issues and the state will see a payoff if the cycle of domestic violence is cut off. 

“The studies confirm all sorts of health issues that kind of stress causes,” she said. “The long-term gains in investing in this type of legislation, you would see that impact health care costs and lost work time. The younger we can (help) our children, the better.” 

Kocienda said he understands these concerns but because students spend 8 hours a day inside school it’s necessary. 

“If it means an abuser has to be removed from a chemistry class and put into another class than so be it,” Kocienda said. “We can’t deny their social lives enter the schools.” 

A restraining order would afford needed protection for teens, especially young women. And it sends a signal to those around the teen that this is a serious matter. 

“I think it would help,” said Stonington’s director of human services Beth Ann Stewart, of the bills. “I think we need to go back into our schools and teach them how stop the pattern of domestic violence within their own home if they don’t have role models, at least the law starts the conversation.” 

“It makes all the sense to me,” said Wood. “It empowers young women. It gives them the ability to say ‘I have the law on my side." 

Bullying behavior is often less apparent after middle school, Roberto Ceja of Center for Youth Leadership, said in previous testimony. 

That’s why the center supports HB 6053. This proposed bill brings teen dating violence under the state’s anti-bullying umbrella. The bill passed the Judiciary Committee with 34 in favor, 2 against, and 9 abstaining or absent. 

Bullying often changes form, imitating more extreme behaviors, such as sexual bullying and/or dating violence. 

“While we are concerned about both explanations, we are more concerned with the link between bullying and dating violence,” Ceja said. 

According to Connecticut Department of Public Health students across the state who reported verbal and physical dating violence, 30 percent considered suicide, 25 percent made a suicide plan’ and 20 percent attempted suicide. 

Lastly, Democrat Deputy Majority Leader Chris Perone, who represents Norwalk in the 137th House District and sponsored SB 1138 to protect children and teens from cyberbullying. 

“One out of every four Connecticut high school students is bullied each year. And more and more of this bullying is happening via Facebook, text messaging and instant messaging,” said Perone. “The world is changing and we need to make sure that we are doing everything possible to keep our kids safe.”

Both the Education and Judiciary Committees approved the proposed bill. Currently six states have enacted laws addressing cyberbullying.

State Rep. Kim Fawcett, a Democrat who represents Fairfield and Westport in the 133rd House District is supportive of Perone’s bill. 

“I have teenage daughters and have witnessed the use of cyberbullying first hand.  It is growing and our youth are being impacted daily,” Fawcett said. "One of the biggest instigators of cyberbullies is the animosity that kids have when they are online.  They feel they can say and do anything and they don't completely understand the impact of their actions." 

And, Gorman described how the impact of cyberbullying is different today than it was 20 years ago. 

“Times have changed, our society have changed. Youth can be bullied on many different levels and many different ways than 20 years ago,” she said. “There were other ways you could walk away from it but in today's society it's really hard to get away form a rumor,” she said. “You could find it on Facebook and it might have been 10 people who knew about it years ago but in today's society, it could be 100 to 200 people who know about it and I do think it's very painful to kids.”


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