The law, by itself, is simply a grouping of words and phrases, innocuous in and of themselves. A law must be supported by the community for which it was passed. If it means a major change in the people's lifestyle, concurrent services must be made available to support that change. A domestic violence law without necessary support services involving medical, legal, psychological, economic, and child care needs may as well not exist at all. Even though most States have passed recent legislation involving family violence, much more needs to be done in order to adequately implement those laws. This article seeks the development of comprehensive domestic violence programs which take into consideration all aspects of the problem. A total of 47 references are included. (Author abstract modified)