Breaking the Cycle of Violence

LWVE supports programs to prevent violence and serve the victims of family violence. These programs should include:

Educational programs that emphasize self-esteem, healthy sexuality, problem solving, positive expression of emotions, non-violent conflict resolution, and respect for others to prevent violent behavior. This would include support for:

• Government-sponsored parenting and early childhood classes.
• Local or state government mandating or encouraging such education programs in school curricula
• Use of public money to train teachers and administrators to use non-violence curricula that promotes non-violence.
• Training for childcare providers
• Anger management training

A requirement that adult educators, including coaches and other people who work with youth, participate in prevention of sexual harassment and violence education programs, and that public money be provided for adequate training.

The use of public money for a state-wide public information and communication campaign designed to prevent violent and sexually violent behavior; i.e., to promote healthy sexuality, non-violent conflict resolution, and gender and racial equality.

Efforts of state and local government to develop and coordinate programs dealing with primary prevention of violence.

Allocation of public monies in governmental programs to combat violence through reducing substance abuse and poverty, and by identifying and responding to individuals who have been violent or are at risk for violent behavior.

The following social institutions taking an active role in preventing violent behavior:

• Religious community
• Business community
• Legal community
• Medical community
• Media
• Civic and recreation community.

Efforts to encourage the media industry to exercise self-restraint in the promotion of violence.

Efforts to encourage the pornography industry to exercise self-restraint in the promotion of sexually violent pornography.

Comprehensive and timely procedures for agencies dealing with family violence.

Specific crisis intervention training for police officers and social workers working with police departments.

On-going services including sufficient shelter space for abuse victims.

Continuing a program of mediation as a possible alternative to criminal prosecution in resolving domestic disputes.

A complete and continuing system of data collection on incidents of family violence to aid in planning and evaluation of services.

Providing sufficient advocates to protect the interests of victims of family violence.

Provision and enforcement of immediate legal remedies for victims of family violence.

Developing continued coordinated training programs for all legal and human services professionals to address the ongoing problems of family violence.

 

Survey and Report 2020, Updated May 2021 and May 2023