The markedly increased attention focused on violence within families has gripped the concerned interest not only of academic researchers but also that of the public and its law enforcement and criminal justice segments. Contemporary recognition of the widespread problem of abuse within the home, often dramatically and poignantly detailed, has not, however, led to clear and universally accepted public institutional responses. This authoritative volume presents a comprehensive evaluation of approaches, policies, and practical enforcement measures that have been effected by law enforcement and criminal justice bodies.The development of changes in social attitudes to spousal abuse; the role of the police and the practical interventions they may impose when contacted; the ramifications which decisions to prosecute may have on defendants' subsequent behavior; and the victims' responses to public interventions are topics that are all covered by this book. It is a current, substantive, and practically instructive volume on a social issue of vital importance.