“It's just a piece of paper”: Teen perceptions of orders of protection for dating violence

Background: Many states have expanded their laws to allow adolescents to secure orders of protection (OPs) as a remedy for teen dating violence, without requiring parental involvement. However, little is known about adolescents' beliefs about OPs and OP use. The goals of this study were to gain a deeper understanding of youth knowledge and attitudes about OPs, perceived barriers to their use, and possible ways to increase their accessibility. Methods: We conducted 20 focus groups with 181 racially/ethnically diverse youth (55% female; mean age 17.5), from urban, rural and suburban locations across New York State, a state where youth have been able to obtain OPs since 2008. Focus groups were recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded and analyzed for emergent themes. Results: Participating youth had misconceptions about the process and function of civil court OPs. Specifically, they believed that OPs did not improve safety, were not socially acceptable, and were difficult to obtain. Conclusions: Results suggest the need for improved channels of information for youth about obtaining civil court OPs. In particular, basic education is needed to emphasize that civil court OPs can be obtained by people of any age, do not require parental consent, and need not involve the police. Practitioners should develop ecological strategies to address social norms about OP use, including increased structural support for youth, access to judicial advocacy services, and opportunities for peer education and support.