The intent of the model protocol is to provide Ohio communities a vehicle for reducing the incidence of domestic violence and helping victims avoid abuse. The protocol provides guidelines for various professionals in the criminal justice, civil justice, human services, and medical fields in responding to domestic assault cases. These professionals include the police dispatcher who receives a domestic-assault call, the law enforcement officers who respond to the call, clerks of criminal courts, prosecutors, criminal court judges, the probation department, clerks of civil courts, civil court judges, child protective services, and medical facilities staff. The protocol does not intend to mandate the duties or practices of these professionals, but rather to provide a response model that can be tailored to the circumstances and resources of each community. Suggestions are provided for implementing a model domestic violence protocol. The handbook for physicians provides tools for them to use in helping patients who are victims of domestic violence. The handbook contains information on how to approach women whom a physician suspects of being battered or emotionally abused, clinical guidelines for recognizing abuse, legal considerations, and a list of domestic violence shelters by county.