THIS COLLECTION EXPLORES SOCIETY'S DISTANCE FROM THE GOALS OF ACHIEVING JUSTICE FOR WOMEN AND OF PROTECTING CHILDREN WHILE ILLUSTRATING SOME WAYS OF ADVANCING THESE GOALS. AN ARTICLE ON WIFE ABUSE EXAMINES VICTORIAN ATTITUDES AND EFFORTS TO CONTROL IT, NOTING CONTINUITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PAST AND PRESENT INITIATIVES. EXISTING LEGISLATION IS REVIEWED AS WELL AS ITS INTERPRETATION THROUGH CASE LAW AFFECTING BATTERED WOMEN. EXAMPLES FROM A LAW PRACTICE DETAIL THE DIFFICULTIES IN ACHIEVING POLICE AND COURT PROTECTION FOR WOMEN ASSAULTED BY HUSBANDS OR COHABITEES. AN ARTICLE FOCUSING ON THE HOUSING HOMELESS PERSONS ACT (1977) INTENDED TO IMPROVE THE RE-HOUSING CHANCES OF WOMEN UNDER THREAT OF VIOLENCE, IDENTIFIES INHERENT PROBLEMS, AND SUGGESTS SOLUTIONS. A REPORT ON TWO PARLIAMENTARY SELECT COMMITTEES STUDYING FAMILY VIOLENCE EXAMINES SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES TOWARDS BATTERED WOMEN AND ABUSED CHILDREN BY LOOKING FOR IMPLICIT AS WELL AS EXPLICIT METHODS AND GOALS. THE LAW AND ITS ENFORCEMENT IN RELATION TO ABUSED CHILDREN IS ALSO REVIEWED. FOSTERCARE AND ADOPTION PROCEDURES PROVIDE ANOTHER ILLUSTRATION OF A SYSTEM OF LAW AND ADMINISTRATION PARTIALLY IMMOBILIZED BY CONFLICTING VALUES AND INTERESTS; ONE IN WHICH ADULT CLAIMS THREATEN THE INTEREST AND RIGHT OF THE CHILD TO CONTINUITY IN PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS. A PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF FOSTERING IS APPENDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)