When training law enforcement officers about domestic violence, research findings on the cycle of abuse should be included. This includes the three stages of "tension-building," the "acute battering episode," and the "honeymoon" (batterer's campaign to win back the victim). Research indicates that this cycle typically increases in frequency and severity. In spite of this, victims often refuse assistance; reasons for this may not be directly related to system failure. Some of the reasons for refusing assistance are listed in this article. Recently, in response to public pressure, State legislatures across the United States have enacted legislation that makes domestic violence investigations and prosecutions a law enforcement priority. The Florida legislature, for example, recently enacted legislation that requires prosecutors to adopt a pro-prosecution policy for acts of domestic violence. This article examines the impact of legislatively created domestic policies on law enforcement, police procedures in responding to domestic violence incidents, stalking laws, and the impact of domestic violence on children in the family of abuse. 7 footnotes