Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Spring 2011

First Page

131

Volume

20

Issue

2

Source Publication Abbreviation

Tex. J. Women & L.

Abstract

The American criminal justice system, (therefore), is facing a future domestic violence crisis. Unfortunately, authorities-both parents and law enforcement-tend to minimize the seriousness of violence within adolescent relationships and to minimize the seriousness of stalking. In addition, given the prevalence and embrace of technology by teenagers, criminalizing "normal" teenage behavior seems counter-productive. While an effective criminal justice system response to this problem has yet to be developed, the first step will be for parents and law enforcement to recognize the risk and take it seriously. The second step will be to "renorm" unhealthy teenage relationship norms. It is possible that the very embrace of technology might hold a solution. With guidance, the power of social networking may provide an effective counter to the isolation and imbalance of the domestic violence relationship. The combination of these steps might help avert this domestic violence crisis. Section II of this article will explore the dynamics and intersection of the domestic violence relationship, stalking, and technology. Section III will examine teenage identity formation, teenage use of technology, the incorporation of technology into teenagers' identity formation and relationships, and the prevalence of teenage domestic violence. Section IV will explore the potential consequences of current technology use in teenagers' intimate relationships. Section V will propose possible solutions to the burgeoning crisis in America's efforts to combat domestic violence.

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