THE ABA HAS ALREADY PASSED A RESOLUTION SHOWING THE GROUP'S SUPPORT FOR FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL EFFORTS TO COMBAT THE INCIDENCE, CAUSES, AND EFFECTS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE AND FOR PROGRAMS TO PROTECT THE VICTIMS. ABA ALSO RECOGNIZES THAT INTRAFAMILY ASSAULTS HAVE BOTH CRIMINAL AND DOMESTIC ASPECTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO A COMPLICATED CHEMISTRY OF HABIT, NEED, SOCIAL CONDITIONING, AND HUMAN FINANCIAL DEPENDENCY. THUS ABA GOES BEYOND ITS AGREEMENT WITH HR 2977 FOR COMMUNITY-BASED SHELTERS PROVIDING REFUGE FOR THE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THEIR CHILDREN AND THE BILL'S PROVISION FOR FUNDING FOR PREVENTION PROJECTS TO BE RUN BY LOCAL PUBLIC AGENCIES AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS. IT ADVOCATES TRAINING COUNSELORS AND OTHER CRITICAL PERSONNEL TO BE ABLE TO BREAK FAMILIES' LIFE-LONG PATTERNS OF ABUSE AND VICTIMIZATION. ABA RECOMMENDS FUNDING OF SPECIAL TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR POLICE, PROSECUTORS, AND THE BENCH, PROGRAMS WHICH REEDUCATE AND SENSITIZE LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL ABOUT ASSAULT AND WHICH TEACH OFFICERS METHODS WHICH ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT THE VICTIMS OF THESE ASSAULTS BOTH IN THEIR EFFORTS TO FIND HELP AND IN THEIR EFFORTS TO FOLLOW THROUGH IN PROSECUTING THE PERPETRATORS. THE BILL SHOULD ALSO SUPPORT THE CREATION OF INNOVATIVE PAROLE, PROBATION, AND DIVERSION PROGRAMS SPECIFICALLY DIRECTED AT BATTERERS. PIONEERING COMMUNITIES' EXPERIENCE SUGGESTS THAT DIVERSION IS A PROMISING APPROACH AS LONG AS THE STATE IS CONSISTENT IN ENACTING A PENALTY WHEN THE BENEFICIARY OF THE DIVERSIONARY ALTERNATIVE DOES NOT PERFORM AS REQUIRED UNDER THE DIVERSION AGREEMENT. ABA'S RESOLUTIONS ARE APPENDED. (MHP)