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The article describes the study from Maricopa County (Phoenix, Arizona), on the Orders of Protection (OP) and hence on the problem of domestic violence in general and the Restraining Orders in particular during 1990. A focus is made on women who invoke the Temporary Restraining Order (TRIO) process, their experiences with the legal systems and the protection given by the TRO to women from further abuse. Also, it examines the victims using the Restraining Orders and their expectations. Victims reported several kinds of problems with obtaining the order or having it enforced. Slightly more than half of the victims interviewed thought that the order was effective, and slightly more than half reported subsequent instances of violence. In those cases where OPs "worked," they were found to work in much the same manner all myths work. Orders of Protection do not protect. Restraining orders do not restrain. The rise of the concept "protection order" is recognized that reflects an unwarranted hubris by those who seek political dominance and control in this sphere. Several recommendations are also discussed.

The Family and Community Violence Prevention (FCVP) Program was established in 1994 to address the escalation of youth violence among ethnic minorities. This federally funded program adapted the public health model and organized Family Life Centers throughout the country to serve youth who were considered to be at risk for violence and other abusive behaviors. The purpose of this three-year study, 1999-2002, was to determine the effectiveness of the FCVP Program's six-component curriculum in reducing violence among participants. Results from posttest scores of 2,315 youth showed girls 12 and over to be most at risk for deviant behaviors; the program was most effective with boys under age 12. Academic performance and bonding to school were protective factors whereas exposure to violence was a risk factor for all four ethnic groups studied--African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Native Hawaiians. EDITORS' STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS: Cultural anthropologists, public health specialists, and school officials should know that prevention programs can be designed to reflect the unique, culturally appropriate norms of specific ethnic minority groups, even as these programs address shared risk factors. The authors discuss the promising strategy of enhancing academic performance and school bonding to serve as protective factors against school violence, but they also describe age, gender, and cultural differences that must be addressed in future research.