Treating domestic abuse as just another battle in the “war on crime” obscures many of the dynamics inherent in this particular problem. It is unreasonable to expect a limited legal response to solve a pervasive social problem. Domestic abuse has an impact that can be felt far beyond the time and place of a single act of violence, not only for the victim but for those around the victim. The psychological and emotional impact of domestic abuse can affect successive generations as traumatized victims become vulnerable to substance abuse, depressive illness, unemployment, sickness, child neglect, isolation, single-parent poverty and abusive behavior. The document examines limitations of the criminal justice system as an agent for dealing with domestic abuse, the women’s movement and the criminal justice system and the reality for the victim and abuser. The report suggests the need for a different response, a communitarian response, and describes how a restorative justice approach could be applied to domestic abuse, including how to incorporate the concepts of “shame” and “community.” Note, references