Kerry & Tim
4/8/2015
Week 7 Street Law Lesson Plan
Title: Teen Violence Simulation
Sources: Model Lesson Plans; loveisrespect.org; kingcounty.gov; http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw,
http://www.theduluthmodel.org/pdf/PowerandControl.pdf, http://www.ncadv.org/learn/statistics,
http://www.ncadv.org/images/LGBTQ_Victims.pdf,
http://www.ncadv.org/images/Health_Care_and_Domestic_Violenc.pdf,
http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/definitions.html
Time: 98 Minutes
I. Goals:
1. Studying Family law in general helps students
a. Be aware of the important
b. See an example of how criminal and civil law work together
2. Studying Teen Dating Violence helps students
a. Be conscientious about their own relationships
b. Connect themselves and others to community resources
II. Objectives
1. Knowledge and Skills Objectives
a. Know Washington laws regarding domestic violence including definitions
b. Identify the difference between criminal domestic violence and non-criminal
abuse
2. Application Objectives
a. Recognize real-life abusive actions
b. Be able to contact the resources provided in class
3. Attitude Objectives
a. Be aware of the pervasiveness of domestic violence
b. Feel equipped to deal with abuse in students’ own lives
III. Materials
1. Simulation
o True/False Handout
o Scripts (including copies for students)
2. Lecture
o Powerpoint
IV. Classroom Methods
1. Family Law Opinion Poll
a. (we handed the opinion poll out at the end of last week’s class and asked the
students to pick one question to write a paragraph about)
b. Introduction
Kerry & Tim
4/8/2015
i. Family Law is a patchwork of local, federal, and state laws including both
criminal and civil aspects.
ii. There is not a unified body of law. The closest example is when the
United States Supreme Court decides constitutional Family Law
questions. For example, if the Supreme Court were to decide that gay
marriage bans were unconstitutional, then every state and federal law
would have to comply with the Court’s ruling, and allow gay marriage.
However, even in those situations, there are usually many ways to comply
with constitutional mandates, meaning that laws won’t be entirely
consistent between states.
iii. Family law also covers a broad range of topics. For example: marriage,
divorce (including division of property, child support), adoption, surrogate
motherhood, end of life law (like wills), and domestic violence
c. Activity
i. [have questions, resources on slides]
ii. Ask whether students strongly agreed, agreed, were neutral, disagreed, or
strongly disagreed with each statement
1. Can cut some of these to fit within time constraints
2. Ask students who wrote about each statement to share what they
wrote
iii. Be sure to walk them through the interactive map during the discussion of
gay marriage
iv. Show them the Indiana most-wanted child-support dodgers, if time
permits
2. Introductions (~ 5 minutes)
a. Disclaimer
i. Tell the class: Issues involving family law touch everyone’s lives. When
discussing matters of family law, be especially thoughtful about what
you’re saying, and how you’re reacting to what other people are saying.
Remember the Street Law class rules we all made, and keep those in mind
today. Domestic violence can be a very difficult topic to discuss.
Everyone’s views and experiences are welcome. If anyone chooses to not
participate, we’ll respect that choice, and we ask that everyone else do the
same.
b. Place Domestic Violence in Context
c. [powerpoint]
d. Family Law
i. Civil aspects
ii. Criminal aspects
iii. Social/non-legal aspects
e. Power and Control wheel
i. Explain the wheel
ii. Leave the wheel on the screen during activity
3. Simulation and True/False Activity
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4/8/2015
a. Ask for four volunteers. Make sure that they understand the subject matter, but
assure them that the simulations are low key.
b. Pass out the Dating Violence True/False handout [attached]
i. Ask students to circle answers
c. Read through simulation with volunteers while other students complete handout
i. Ask them if they have any questions, whether they feel comfortable doing
the simulation
d. Have students act out simulation 1 [script attached]
e. Ask for Student reactions to first simulation
i. [ask the role-players how they feel, give them chance to “de-role”]
ii. What abusive behavior did you see? Was this “abuse”?
iii. Do you think the conduct was criminal? When are words alone a crime?
iv. Do you think it’s common for women to abuse men? Physically?
Emotionally?
v. Can texting be abuse? What about social media?
f. Have students act out simulation 2 [script attached]
g. Ask for student reactions to second simulation
i. [ask the role-players how they feel, give them chance to “de-role”]
ii. What abusive behavior did you see? Was this “abuse”?
iii. Do you think the conduct was criminal?
iv. Do you think this type of interaction is common in high school
relationships?
h. Return to the handouts
i. Situations like the ones you just saw are all too common among young
adults. Let’s look at your handouts, and talk about some statistics.
ii. Go over handouts, answers.
1. Pose questions to class: “how many people thought this was true?”
“What percentage do you think it is?”
2. Give facts, allow students to react to facts
4. Lecture/Resources
a. Introduce students to LoveIsRespect.org
b. Now that everyone has seen how prevalent dating violence is, I want to explore
the legal consequences. In other words, is “dating abuse” “domestic violence”?
c. [powerpoint]
i. RCWs
1. There is no crime called “domestic violence” in Washington.
Instead, it is a “tag” that is put on other crimes to enhance the
punishment.
2. 20.50.010- walk through definitions, especially “dating
relationship”
3. Go through the crimes that are commonly included as “domestic
violence” offenses
4. 20.50.020- specific requirements for youths
ii. Protection Orders
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4/8/2015
1. No-Contact, Anti-harassment, civil protection orders
iii. We’ve seen the prevalence of dating violence, the criminal consequences
and some legal protections. Now I want to tackle the question “Why don’t
people leave?”
1. The reasons are incredibly diverse and depend on a person’s
situation. There are several barriers for people in these
relationships including resources (who controls the money?),
threats of harm and fear of retaliation, isolation (isolated from
family and friends? They may have no one they can trust to turn
to), family (safety and wellbeing of children and pets), love (this is
a cycle, there are good times in the relationship too), self-blame,
don’t realize what their relationship is (some people are raised in
DV situations and don’t realize their harm when in them
themselves; other times, the signs can be very subtle when there is
no actual physical violence)
2. Even greater barriers for specific demographics including men
(stigma) anyone not white, LGBTQ persons (don’t want to be
outed, immigrants, etc
3. This is why it’s even more important for us to be talking about
domestic violence, being advocates to end it, and proving
resources for everyone
iv. Resources [handout]
1. [walk them through some of the options, ask if anyone has any
questions]
V. Evaluations
1. Ability to discuss specific potential criminal and civil charges students saw in
simulations
Kerry & Tim
4/8/2015
Teen Dating Violence Statistics
Decide whether you think the following statements are True or False; fill in the
blank, where appropriate, with your best guess
1.
One in three adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse
from a dating partner, a figure that far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence.
TRUE
2.
One in 10 high school students has been purposefully hit, slapped or physically hurt by a
boyfriend or girlfriend.
TRUE
3.
FALSE
FALSE
10% of high school girls have been victims of physical or sexual abuse.
TRUE
FALSE
4.
Approximately _____% of college students say they have been sexually coerced.
5.
____% of youth who have been victims of both dating violence and rape attempt suicide.
6.
Washington currently does not include dating relationships in its definition of domestic violence.
TRUE
FALSE
7.
____% of teens who were in a violent relationship ever told anyone about the abuse.
8.
_____% of parents believe teen dating violence is not an issue or admit they don’t know if it’s an
issue.
Kerry & Tim
4/8/2015
Teen Dating Violence Statistics
ANSWERS
1.
One in three adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse
from a dating partner, a figure that far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence.
True. Last year almost 20 million students attended high school. This means about 6.7 million
high school students were victims of teen dating violence
2.
One in 10 high school students has been purposefully hit, slapped or physically hurt by a
boyfriend or girlfriend.
True. So 2 million high school students were physically assaulted by the person they were
dating.
3.
10% of high school girls have been victims of physical or sexual abuse.
False. The number is actually much higher; 25% of girls (or around 2.5 million) have been
physically or sexually abused
4.
Approximately ____% of college students say they have been sexually coerced.
70.
5.
____% who have been victims of both dating violence and rape attempt suicide.
50%. This number is up from 12.5% girls and 5.4% of boys who have not been abused.
6.
Washington currently does not include dating relationships in their definition of domestic
violence.
False. Washington does include dating relationships in its definition of domestic violence. But
eight states do not, which means that young people in those states often cannot apply for
restraining orders.
7.
Only ____% of teens who were in a violent relationship ever told anyone about the abuse.
33.
8.
____% of parents believe teen dating violence is not an issue or admit they don’t know if it’s an
issue.
81.
Kerry & Tim
4/8/2015
ROLE PLAY 1
(At school)
ALEX: Hey Sam, what’s the plan for this weekend?
SAM: Well I was going to go see my mom on Saturday, but I just got a text from Jenny that
we’re supposed to hang out with Pete and Tisha.
A: That’s crazy. You never get to see your mom. Besides, Pete’s a creep—you don’t want to
hang with him.
S: That’s what I told Jenny, but she keeps texting me. She said only momma’s boys visit their
mom’s on the weekend.
A: That’s messed up. Is Jenny always like that?
S: Pretty much. Last weekend we spent all day rearranging her room. She said if I helped her do
that, I could do whatever I wanted to this weekend. (pointing to his phone) Now she says, if I
loved her I’d help her with her room AND hang out with Pete and Tisha.
A: I’d break up with her if I was you.
S: I don’t think that’s a good idea. I couldn’t get another girlfriend…
A: (Skeptically) Who told you that? Jenny?
S: Well, yeah. Plus all my friends are her friends. It’d be weird.
A: Man, you don’t need a girlfriend like that. And you don’t need friends like Pete. I say you
should go to your Mom’s and forget about Jenny.
S: I don’t know… (looks at phone again) She’s texting me again. I have to go find her, I’ll see
you later Alex
Kerry & Tim
4/8/2015
ROLE PLAY 2
(At Pete’s House)
PETE: You’ll be at the game on Saturday right?
TISHA: I can’t make it on Saturday, I promised Jenny I’d help her fix up her room on Saturday.
P: Why did you do that? You know I wanted you there at the game. All the other guys have their
girlfriends there – you are going to make me look stupid.
T: Pete, I have been to every other game, I just have to help out Jenny this one time, ok?
P: (talking louder) No, it’s not ok. I have had it with your selfish attitude. Maybe I can beat some
sense into you.
T: (backing away) Pete you promised you wouldn’t hit me again.
P: (stepping forward with arm raised) yeah – well maybe I changed my mind!
T: I’ll call the police if you don’t back off.
P: (still shouting) Yeah, who’ll believe you? You’re pathetic! No one cared last time, did they?
T: Ok! I’ll come to your game. Whatever you want, just calm down.
P: Yeah, I’ll calm down this time, but you better watch it. You know you need me, Tisha, so just
behave yourself.
Kerry & Tim
4/8/2015
Dating and Domestic Violence Resources
Love Is Respect- http://www.loveisrespect.org/get-help/get-help
Love Is Respect is a good place to start when trying to answer difficult questions
like “Should We Break Up?” and “Can I Stop Being Abusive?”
King County Website- http://www.kingcounty.gov/courts/Clerk/DomesticViolence/
The King County Website walks individuals through the legal procedures
involved in Domestic Violence cases. It connects people to the prosecutors and
explains the No Contact Order procedures. It also connects abusers to resources
The website also has links intended to deal with specific situations including teen
dating violence
(http://www.kingcounty.gov/courts/Clerk/DomesticViolence/DV2_0.aspx).
University of Washington Community Resources pagehttp://www.washington.edu/safecampus/staff/resources-cmty.html
UW’s page compiles a number of difference resources available to people in the
Seattle area
1 in 3: http://www.oneinthree.com.au/servicesandresources/
Specifically geared toward male victims of domestic violence
Phone Numbers
911
In an emergency, always call 911 right away
206-205-5555
This is a Seattle-specific domestic violence hotline that anyone can call for
advice in a non-emergency situation
1-800-526-6025
This is a state-wide domestic violence hotline
1800-799-SAFE
This is a nation-wide domestic violence hotline
A Guide For Friends and Family of Victims
http://www.thehotline.org/help/help-for-friends-and-family/
Kerry & Tim
4/8/2015
Family Law Opinion Poll
Circle your reaction to the following statements. Be prepared to discuss your reasoning behind each answer.
1. Couples should be required to live together for six months before getting married.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
2. Women who take illegal drugs during pregnancy should be prosecuted for child abuse.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
3. If two people of the same sex want to get married and raise a child, they should be
allowed to do so.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
4. Children should be required to support elderly parents who are in nursing homes and
receiving government aid, such as Medicaid.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
5. If a woman wishes to have an abortion, she should be able to do so without the consent of
the father.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
6. A husband who physically abuses his wife should be prosecuted for criminal assault,
even if the wife is unwilling to testify against him.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
7. Parents who do not pay child support should have their names and photographs included on a
website list of those “most wanted” for late child support payments.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
8. High school students should be able to obtain contraceptives at school without their parents’
knowledge or consent.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
FILL OUT AND BRING THIS TO CLASS NEXT WEDNESDAY, 4/8/15!
Kerry & Tim
4/8/2015
5th Hour Street Law Homework
DUE Wednesday, 4/8/15 – We’ll be discussing your answers in class
Write a short persuasive essay taking a position based on any question from the family law
opinion poll. Your essay should contain the following:
1. A statement of your conclusion.
(e.g. A high school student should be permitted to obtain a driver’s license at the age of 14.)
2. At least two specific arguments supporting your conclusion.
(e.g. Many parents work full time. Therefore, they do not have the time to provide the
transportation their children need.)
3. At least one counter-argument that your opponents might make.
(e.g. Some people who believe that parents should spend more time with their children might
argue that decreasing the minimum driving age would take the burden off parents to provide
adequate supervision for their children.)
4. Arguments for why your opponents’ counter-argument(s) are not persuasive.
(e.g. The reality of today’s society is that many parents must work full time to support their
families. Permitting younger high school students to obtain their drivers’ license would permit
these students to provide their own transportation, lessening the demands on their parents and
decreasing family stress.)
__________________________________________________________
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__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
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(Use another sheet of paper if necessary)
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4/8/2015
Opinion Poll: State of the Law
1. Couples should be required to live together for six months before getting married.
Discussion Points:


Would this decrease divorce rates?
What sorts of arguments, other than legal arguments, might influence people’s opinions
on this? (religious, moral, financial, family needs)
 Do you think it should be easy to get married?
 Do you think anything should be required before a couple gets married?
State of the Law:
Washington has a 3 day waiting period starting on the day you submit your marriage license
application. You can obtain a license online, by mail, or in person from the County for a small ($3-$4)
fee. Most states have waiting periods for getting a divorce. Washington’s is 90 days. Other states have up
to a year waiting period for divorce.
2. Women who take illegal drugs during pregnancy should be prosecuted for child abuse.
Discussion Points:



Should it matter how many times the woman uses drugs during her pregnancy?
What if the woman is an addict who is trying to get treatment?
Should it matter whether the child shows any physical effects from the mother’s drug
use?
 Do you think this relates to the abortion debate at all? What if a woman uses drugs while
pregnant, but then has an abortion after criminal charges are filed?
State of the Law:
There are only two states (South Carolina and Alabama) as of now that have upheld convictions
of a pregnant woman for taking drugs during her pregnancy. See Whitner v. State, 492 S.E.2d 777 (S.C.
1997), McKnight v. State, 661 S.E.2d 354 (S.C. 2008), Ex parte Hope Elisabeth Ankrom Petition for Writ
of Certiorari, 143 So. 3d 58 (Ala. 2013). All other states, if they’ve had this problem, have overturned
these convictions because a fetus was not considered a “person” in their criminal laws, therefore, a crime
couldn’t be committed against them. That doesn’t mean that other states haven’t tried.
3. If two people of the same sex want to get married and raise a child, they should be allowed to do
so.
Discussion Points:

What are the reasons why same-sex marriage should not be permitted? Should be
permitted?
 What relationships/circumstances should children be adopted into?
State of the Law:
Many states have done away with their bans on gay marriage. Washington legalized gay marriage
by ballot referendum in 2012 and the law went into effect on December 6, 2012. The Supreme Court in
United States v. Windsor (2013) struck down a federal law (DOMA) that defined marriage as a union
between a man and a woman for federal law purposes (including tax benefits, surviving spouse benefits,
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4/8/2015
immigration, and financial aid eligibility). There are currently four consolidated cases before the Supreme
Court that will determine if the U.S. Constitution (14th Amendment specifically) requires states to issue
marriage licenses to same-sex couples and if states are required to recognize same-sex marriages validly
entered into in another state (See http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/bourke-v-beshear/ for
updates on the case including oral argument transcripts after April 28, 2015). See LA Times map that
shows gay marriage law among the states from 2000 – Feb 2015 http://graphics.latimes.com/usmap-gaymarriage-chronology/.
In Washington, a court cannot discriminate based on sexual orientation in child custody
determinations. (Marriage of Cabalquinto, 100 Wn.2d 325 (1983)). Washington, like many other states,
also allows LGBT individuals, and same-sex couples to petition to adopt as well as a same sex partner to
petition to adopt the other partner’s child. Other states are not as LGBT friendly however.
4. Children should be required to support elderly parents who are in nursing homes and receiving
government aid, such as Medicaid.
State of the Law
Washington currently has no law requiring children to support needy parents. Such a law was in
effect until 1976, but it was repealed when the federal government told states that they would lose federal
aid if they required people to pay for the care of blind and disabled parents.
5. If a woman wishes to have an abortion, she should be able to do so without the consent of the
father.
Discussion Points

What if the father is also the woman’s husband? Does that change your opinion?
Why/Why not?
 What if the positions were reversed, and the woman did not want to have an abortion but
the man insisted that she do so? What would your opinion be in that situation?
 What if the father insisted that the woman either have an abortion or sign away her rights
to receive any child support? Do you think that should be permitted?
 What if a man clearly told his female partner that he did not want children, and the
woman promised to use birth control and have an abortion if she became pregnant?
Should the man be required to pay child support if the woman later gets pregnant and
refuses to have an abortion?
State of the Law:
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a state cannot require a spouse’s consent before a woman has
an abortion. The Court based its opinion on the fact that the woman physically bears the child and is more
directly affect, and to allow the husband veto power would grant him power over the woman. The U.S.
Supreme Court, in Planned Parenthood of S.E. Pennsylvania v. Casey (1992), struck down a provision in
a Pennsylvania law requiring that husbands be notified before an abortion.
The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld parental notification laws for minors seeking an abortion, but
only if there is also a judicial bypass put in place so that the minor has the alternative option of obtaining
a judge’s consent instead of a parent’s. (see Planned Parenthood v. Casey again).
6. A husband who physically abuses his wife should be prosecuted for criminal assault, even if the
wife is unwilling to testify against him.
Kerry & Tim
4/8/2015
We will be spending the rest of class discussing Domestic Violence. In short, Washington has a
comprehensive set of laws pertaining to the issue of domestic violence from many criminal statutes to
protection orders, with an expansive definition of who domestic violence affects/harms.
7. Parents who do not pay child support should have their names and photographs included on a
web site list of those “most wanted” for late child support payments.
Discussion Points:
 What is the purpose of child support?
 What can be done to get parents to pay child support?
 What sorts of things should child support be used for?
State of the Law:
Washington and many other states have such websites. See Indiana’s Most Wanted Child Support
list (http://www.in.gov/dcs/3333.htm); Washington’s Most Wanted Child Support list
(https://fortress.wa.gov/dshs/dcs/MostWanted/Home/). The King County Prosecutor’s Office has a
program specifically designed to make sure parents pay child support. That office assists parents who
have custody of their children in establishing paternity, and obtaining and enforcing child support orders.
To enforce child support payments, the state can garnish the parents’ wages, seize and sell parents’
property, take parents’ IRS refunds, and suspend parents’ drivers’ licenses.
8. High school students should be able to obtain contraceptives at school without their parents’
knowledge or consent.
Discussion Points:
 If you were a parent with teenage kids, would your opinion be different?
 Why might some parents oppose the distribution of contraceptives to their children at
school?
 Do you think that by making contraceptives available to students, high schools send a
message about teenage sex?
 What would be the purpose of distributing contraceptives at high school?
State of the Law:
The U.S. Supreme Court has held that the SALE of contraceptives to minors cannot be
prohibited. Whether condoms or other contraceptives should be distributed at schools is being debated my
many school boards across the country. The spread of AIDS and high rates of teenage pregnancy are cited
as reasons in favor of distribution. Some other groups argue that by providing contraceptives to students,
high schools send a message condoning teen sex.