Violence is often perpetrated on a bride if her parents haven't met the bridegroom's family's demands for dowry, if they withhold part of the dowry, or if the dowry does not satisfy the bridegroom's family. Many dowry disputes end with the bride's death (often by burning) or with her suicide. Studies show that many dowry victims are young, dependent, and uneducated women in the early years of marriage. In order to outlaw dowry violence against women and to make the prosecution of such crimes easier, the Indian government has amended its Penal and Criminal Procedure Codes. In addition, the Dowry Prohibition (amendment) Act, 1984 made the offense cognizable while at the same time broadening the definition of dowry. The deterrent effect of the legislation has not yet been felt, and the authors argue that voluntary social pressures must be brought to prevent dowry-related violence against women. 20 references.