This books offers a unique comparative perspective on the development of service programs for victims of four major violent crimes: child abuse, spouse abuse, rape, and crimes against the elderly. The study analyzes the evolution of federal policy in each area and examines the ways in which federal initiatives and federal funding affected the focus and financial stability of victim service programs. This book argues that the four issues were profoundly affected by the public policy process, the varied definition of the issues shaped by ways in which public funding was distributed. The book takes a broad view of the policymaking process—to include all branches of the federal government, as well as state and local government, the courts, and voluntary grass-roots organizations. This books offers a unique comparative perspective on the development of service programs for victims of four major violent crimes: child abuse, spouse abuse, rape, and crimes against the elderly. The study analyzes the evolution of federal policy in each area and examines the ways in which federal initiatives and federal funding affected the focus and financial stability of victim service programs. This book argues that the four issues were profoundly affected by the public policy process, the varied definition of the issues shaped by ways in which public funding was distributed. The book takes a broad view of the policymaking process—to include all branches of the federal government, as well as state and local government, the courts, and voluntary grass-roots organizations. While offering concrete information about four specific victims' policies, the book also presents very important theoretical generalizations about the policymaking process and about the effect, over time, of that process on the definition and articulation of social problems in general.