Domestic violence has a devastating impact on partners, spouses, families and communities. This resource explores the emotional and physical toll of domestic violence as well as the programs and reforms that have been crafted to intervene in abuse situations and provide assistance to victims.

This book helps readers understand the extent to which domestic violence permeates American society, the socioeconomic and psychological drivers of that violence, and efforts to reform legal and law enforcement systems to make their policies and practices more sensitive to those who have been abused and victimized. It asks and answers questions related to root causes of domestic violence, risk factors, legal options for people in domestic violence situations, and violence prevention programs and services.