ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an outline of what domestic violence entails and discusses different types of domestic violence. It outlines a psychological profile of the perpetrator as well at the victim and also discusses the cycle of breaking domestic violence, looking at the reasons people stay in abusive relationships, developing a safety plan, looking at shelters, and more. The chapter focuses on legal issues like orders of protection, law enforcement intervention, prosecution, and sentencing procedures and explores possible reforms in law enforcement, prosecution, judicial procedures, and legislation. It deals with a forward focus on awareness of social welfare reform and also provides a brief profile of a victim of domestic violence. For a victim who remains in a relationship tarnished by domestic violence, he or she can seek out several avenues for relief. When fleeing from an abusive home, victims often turn to community locations designed to support the specific needs of domestic violence victims.
