| Using the theoretical framework of manifest and latent functions as described by Robert K. Merton, I examine the forces behind social policy, how social policy is realized through legislation, the impact that laws that are intended to facilitate social policy have on individuals and society, and the problems of research studies that have been conducted to ascertain the success or failure of these laws. I use the examples of California's Treatment Diversion Initiative (Proposition 36) and the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act of 2000 (SACPA) that implemented this initiative as well as domestic violence laws that have been implemented to realize the goals of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994. I also detail the manifest and latent functions of the batterers' intervention programs that are an integral part of VAWA. |
