Abusive Family Environments DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM Introductio

S.A.F.E. (Stop Abusive Family Environments) is a non profit organization in West Virginia that provides aid and counseling to victims of family violence. S.A.F.E. has achieved significant successes; however, the organization does not function in all areas of West Virginia. The purpose of this project was to propose an alternative policy decision for S.A.F.E. that would extend the organizations services to Mercer County, an area not now served by S.A.F.E.

S.A.F.E. was founded in the early-1980s in McDowell County, and since that time has expanded to other areas of West Virginia. The organizational staff and trained volunteers assist victims of family-related violence in obtaining protective orders, refers such victims to legal services, and provides shelter from domestic violence when necessary. S.A.F.E. also conducts public education campaigns related to the prevention of domestic violence, and coordinates with political and social leaders in the development of programs and policies to both aid victims of domestic violence and promote reduction in the incidence of such behavior. Ancillary activities associated with these major thrusts are also con

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ction of criminal activity--attacking the underlying causes, and control of social behaviors--cannot be completely divorced. Existing studies in the literature both provide support for each approach, and find an absence of support for each of the approaches. Further, within the general area of the control of social behaviors, the several different approaches to such control which have been advanced cannot be divorced from one another. Again, existing studies in the literature both provide support, and find an absence of support for each of the several approaches. One school of thought holds that stiff penalties should be levied against offenders, as a deterrent to both repetition of the behavior by the offenders, and as a deterrent to non-offenders (Goldberg-Ambrose 949-955). This approach, while highly popular among the general public and conservative politicians is not supported by most sociologists (Kerstetter 267-313). Opportunity to participate in criminal activity is another factor linked to antisocial behaviors. Social relationships often determine whether or not an individual will have an opportunity to participate in criminal activity, and whether or not an individual will be encouraged in such behavior. Social
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 6664
Approximate Pages = 27 (250 words per page)