Unhealthy relationship behaviors often start early and can lead to abuse and domestic violence in future relationships. Every student, parent, and teacher needs to be aware of the prevalence of teen dating violence. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that one in eleven adolescents is a victim of physical dating violence!

It is not too early to start discussing these topics with elementary school aged children. In a recent survey conducted by Liz Claiborne's loveisrespect.org project, nearly half of all "tweens" (11-14 years of age) report that they have been in a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship. Nearly three in four tweens (72%) say dating relationships begin by age 14. The following are suggestions (adapted from loveisrespect.org) to help parents start the conversation.

• Analyze your own dating values before you speak with your kids. How should people behave in a relationship? How should decisions be made? How should disagreements be handled?
• Provide some specific "rules of dating." Give your teen clear examples of appropriate behavior in a dating relationship. Let them know that violence is never acceptable. That includes verbal abuse, being hit, slapped, pushed, punched, kicked, or forced sexual contact.
• Teach assertiveness, not aggressiveness. It is crucial to teach children that if they do not want to do something, they need to say so. Young people need to make their feelings known by stating their opinions, desires, and reactions clearly. However, when there is conflict and things cannot be settled, they need to take a break and cool down before feelings get hurt.
• Teach anger control. Help youth recognize their personal warning signs for anger. Teach them calming techniques like deep breaths, visualizing a happy memory, or just walking away.
• Teach problem solving. When confronted with a tough issue, have your child analyze what happened and what may have caused the situation. Ask them to think of several different ways the issue could have been resolved. Help them consider consequences of each alternative and discuss their choice.
• Teach negotiation. Being able to compromise is a skill even adults struggle with. However, compromising and taking turns are positive steps to a healthy relationship. Violence, threats, and insults have no place in a respectful negotiation.
• Warn them about red flags. Help youth recognize aggressive and controlling behaviors as warning signs. Stress that any incident of violence in a relationship is a predictor of very serious problems that are likely to continue and even escalate in the future.
• Establish an open and honest relationship. Secrecy that isolates them from friends and family is not acceptable and can be the first sign of manipulation and coercion. Teach them that being strong means relying on trusted adults when necessary.
• Be a role model. Children and teens learn by observing those around them, especially their parents. It is critical that you model respect for yourself, your partner, and other people.

Landlord Forum - Successful and Growing!

A few years ago, following one of the Landlord Training Program Seminars, "Getting illegal drugs and other criminal activity out of the rental community," a group of concerned landlords, property managers, and law enforcement officials thought it would be a good idea to form a networking group to share not only horror stories, but also good experiences. In addition, the group would offer solutions that worked for them and how they were able to handle, avoid, or resolve certain situations involving problem tenants.

The Landlord Forums continue to be successful! The only things that change are the new faces of property managers, landlords, and tenants, and some new Landlord Tenant laws that protect both.

If you're a landlord or property manager, we invite you to join our fast-growing group of people committed to their jobs and who want to share their experiences and knowledge with each other to help make life enjoyable for landlords and tenants alike. To find out where and when the monthly landlord forum meets, call the Crime Prevention Unit Office at 503-846-2579 or e-mail Christine at Christine_rouches@co.washington.or.us. You can also contact your local police or one of our member law enforcement agencies: Beaverton Police, Hillsboro Police, Forest Grove Police, Tigard Police, Tualatin Police, or the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

(Vol_24 issue_2-February, 2010)

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Prepare – Organize – Train – Volunteer

Being personally prepared for an emergency is only part of the solution. If your neighborhood and community are not prepared, neither are you. To locate your local program coordinator, or to obtain more information regarding any of the programs below, visit www.citizencorps.gov or talk to your Emergency Manager.

Community Emergency Response Teams - The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

Hillsboro CERT - www.hillsborocert.org/
Beaverton CERT - www.beavertonoregon.gov/departments/emergency/cert/
Tigard CERT - www.tigardcert.org/

Remember Neighborhood Watch IS Homeland Security!

• Update or revitalize your existing Neighborhood Watch. The principles of Neighborhood Watch—recognizing and reporting suspicious activity, a communication network including telephone trees, and general personal and home security awareness and preparation—are also components of Homeland Security!
• Formulate a neighborhood directory and plan that identifies certain neighbors who may require your assistance in case of an emergency. Develop a plan to assist young children, seniors, or people with disabilities who may be home alone.
• Most importantly, remain alert in order to avoid an emergency and know your alternatives should an emergency arise and how to get help.

(Vol_24 issue_2-February, 2010)

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Let's Talk Trash

Is there a house in your neighborhood that seems to continually accumulate trash and junk in their yard? Many neighborhoods have one of these houses. So when does messiness cross the line to become a code violation or even worse a hoarding issue?

Here are a few tips straight from our code enforcement professionals. If a neighbor's house becomes an issue because of trash or debris, their first recommendation is to talk to the neighbor about it. Do they need help cleaning it up? Is there a plan to use it? Code enforcement tells us that when they get a call from a neighbor and then go check on it, the owners of the home are often shocked that a neighbor wouldn't just talk to them about it first. Maybe they don't realize it is that bad or that it has affected their neighbors.

The next step is to contact code enforcement and have them take a look and see if it is really a violation. Keep in mind there are different codes for cities versus the unincorporated areas. It is always better to address an issue early on rather than later. Sometimes you can nip a problem in the bud before it gets out of hand. If an accumulation has developed over years, it may take some time to deal with it. Remember that sometimes there can be extenuating circumstances for a mess. Do the people have the resources to pay for a dumpster or removal of debris? Could there possibly be a hoarding issue? If that is the case it will be much more difficult to deal with since hoarding is a mental health issue.

Trash or hoarding issues that are code violations will differ depending on many factors, such as the age of the occupants, children living there, fire hazard, vermin, flies, if it is on an upper story, weight limits, and rental versus owned properties. All these factors play differently into how code enforcement will respond and what the violations are.

If the mess includes TV's, computers, monitors, and the like, there are new laws pertaining to how to dispose of those items. Did you know that it is now against the law to throw a TV, computer, or monitor into a landfill? As of January 1, 2010, computers, monitors, and TV's CANNOT be disposed of in the garbage or at disposal sites such as landfills, transfer stations, and incinerators. There are free resources however, to help dispose of these items. Visit this website from DEQ to find out how to recycle your TV's, monitors, and computers.

http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/ecycle/consumers/landfillban.htm

For additional information or questions regarding solid waste, possible code violations, or recycling, please call 503-846-8609 or go to www.RecycleWise.org

(Vol_24 issue_2-February, 2010)

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Domestic Violence Awareness & Response

Valentine's Day is a wonderful holiday that gives everyone an opportunity to "share the love" and think of ways to honor and surprise our loved ones. It is also a good time to remember that for victims of domestic violence, love is a complicated and often frightening concept. In light of several recent brutal tragedies in Washington County, we can all work to become more aware and tuned in to offer help to those who may be suffering in silence.

Domestic violence is a crime that differs from all others due to the intimate relationship between the victim and the perpetrator. These relationships can be extremely complicated, to the point that the victim sees very little opportunity to "just leave," and continues to try to cope with the situation. Many times, as was terribly illustrated in these recent homicides, women are more at risk for extreme violence when they do decide to leave the relationship.

For anyone suffering under a burden of abuse and fear, help is available! Making a decision to leave any relationship is very difficult. In domestic violence situations it is even more complicated because it brings up issues of possible retaliation, child custody, and economic hardship. However, at the very least, talking to a counselor can help a person get a fresh look at their situation, formulate a safety plan, and know they are not alone. The Washington County Center for Victims Services, the Domestic Violence Resource Center (DVRC), or even calling 2-1-1 can help make a connection with hope and help.

If you or someone you care about is being physically harmed or threatened, consider an application for a restraining order. Restraining orders are obtained free of charge, at the Washington County Circuit Court. Volunteers with the Restraining Order Advocacy program help people fill the forms out, so no attorneys or legal assistance is required. Restraining orders can provide legal protection for victims and their children and serve as a powerful tool to stop physical violence and unwanted contact from an abuser. Violation of a restraining order is also a crime that can result in additional time in jail.

For others in the community, be alert to signs that family members, friends, neighbors, or co-workers may be under great stress and possibly even in danger. If you see or hear a violent argument or assault, call 9-1-1. Your prompt response can literally save lives.

DVRC 24-Hr. Crisis & Info: 503-469-8620
Center for Victims Services: 503-846-3020
Restraining Order Program: 503-846-3830

(Vol_24 issue_2-February, 2010)

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Burglaries – Unincorporated Washington County
December 15, 2009 – January 15, 2010

Of the 37 burglaries reported in this 30-day period, criminals gained entrance to 11 (30%) of these properties without the use of force. There were 6 attempted burglaries reported. We round addresses to the nearest hundred blocks. Due to printing deadlines, some burglaries may not be on this list.

Residential Burglaries - No Force		Residential Burglaries – Force (Cont'd)
4800	SW Mueller Dr, 97007	18000	NW Heritage Pkwy, 97006
13000	SW Jenkins Rd, 97005	500	NW 86th Ct, 97229
1000	NW 128th Ave, 97229	4000	SW Plumeria Way , 97007
4000	SW Parkview Ave, 97225	2000	SW Pheasant Dr, 97006
16000	NW Energia St, 97229	31000	NW Hwy 47, 97109
1700	SW Marlow Ave, 97225	3000	SW 108th Ave, 97005
4100	SW 173rd Ave, 97007	Business Burglaries – Force
1600	NW 116th Ave, 97229	7200	SW Bvrtn Hillsdale, 97225
16000	NW Lyndel Ln, 97006	13000	NW Cornell Rd, 97229
10000	SW Taylor St, 97225	48000	NW Sunset Hwy, 97106
Residential Burglaries – Force		20000	SW Tv Hwy , 97006
9000	NW Irving St, 97229	Business Burglaries – No Force
8000	SW Canyon Dr, 97225	12000	SW Spring Hill Rd, 97119
18000	SW Shaw St, 97006	Attempted Burglaries
12000	NW Barnes Rd, 97229	700	SW Backcourt Pl, 97006
23000	SW Boones Ferry Rd, 97062	8500	SW Marissa Dr, 97223
19000	SW Aloha Ct , 97006	17000	SW Arborcrest Way, 97006
18000	NW Chemeketa Ln, 97229	20000	SW Alexander St, 97006
11000	SW Walker Rd , 97005	4200	NW 185th Ave, 97229
18000	SW Shaw St, 97006	18000	SW Blanton St, 97007
21000	SW Hells Canyon Rd, 97140

(Vol_24 issue_2-February, 2010)

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Christine Rouches, Neighborhood Watch Editor, christine_rouches@co.washington.or.us Darlene Schnoor, Crime Prevention Specialist, darlene_schnoor@co.washington.or.us Doreen Rivera, Crime Prevention Specialist, doreen_rivera@co.washington.or.us Julie McCloud, Crime Prevention Specialist, julie_mccloud@co.washington.or.us Lorenzo Rubio, Crime Prevention Specialist, lorenzo_rubio@co.washington.or.us