And I used to think domestic violence was just physical abuse. I ve learned it can be emotional as well, but it s the emotional scars that stay with you. Albemarle is the first facility in the state prison system to offer the program on a continuing basis. In January, eight inmates graduated from S.T.O.P. after 20 weeks in the program. The second class, which just got underway Jan. 22, has three times as many participants as the first class.
Participants take part in classroom instruction, presentations and workshops three hours a day.
The offenders do research, lab work and homework. The inmates recently graduated from S.T.O.P. and Change Direction, a program aimed at educating offenders about domestic violence. We grow up in a certain environment and if it s violent then that may be all we know. Joe Marinello is the instructor of the program. He s been a counselor in domestic violence since 1994.