Lisa is a high school senior with her whole life ahead of her. But she isn't spending much time dreaming about the prom or college. A glance at the police blotter shows Coastal Bend officers routinely answering domestic violence calls. In recent weeks, a number of crimes have been linked to domestic abuse or dating violence.
Statistics show the violence often starts before adulthood.
One in four teens will be in an abusive relationship, according to statistics from the Houston Area Women's Center. More than 70 percent of pregnant or parenting teens are beaten by their boyfriends. True, the violence works both ways. There are stories of boys sticking by girls whose anger is out of control. In either case, the victim generally suffers from low self-esteem and both parties are likely to come from families with a history of domestic violence.