The trend toward using mediation in domestic assault cases in New Jersey has been due to a concern for early intervention, victims' frequent withdrawal of criminal complaints, and overburdened courts. Factors undermining the effectiveness of mediation in such cases are the imbalance of power between the abuser and the abused, the difficulty of reaching a viable and workable agreement given the complexities and embedded patterns of the relationship, and public sentiment for the criminal sanctioning of the abuser and the effective protection of the abused. Mediation may be appropriate for couples who are at an early stage of serious conflict that holds the potential for physical violence. These couples should share a recognition of the problem, desire to maintain and improve their relationship, and wish to avoid escalation toward violence.