Child abuse, sexual and domestic violence are among the most destructive experiences afflicting women and children. The wide prevalence of such violence takes an enormous toll on the lives of individual victims as well as the higher society, through innumerable behavioral, health, psychological, and economic consequences.] Exposure to violence can harm a child's emotional, psychological, and even physical development. Children exposed to violence are more likely to have difficulty in school, abuse drugs or alcohol, act aggressively and suffer from depression. The Act that President Bill Clinton provided $1.6 billion toward investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women, imposed automatic and mandatory restitution on those convicted and allowed civil redress when prosecutors chose to not prosecute cases.
