The discouraging reality is that most physical and sexual abusers are never criminally prosecuted. In those cases when an abuser is actually prosecuted, it is extremely rare that the abuser is ordered to personally and fully responsible to pay for counseling assistance to their victims.

Criminal prosecution, especially of violence between spouses, is often not pursued by local prosecutors usually already burdened with large case loads deemed to be of higher priority. When a criminal conviction is obtained, the abuser may be ordered to pay the victim restitution. However, this usually amounts to a few hundred dollars for past hospital expenses and does not fully compensate the victim for future counseling needs or pain and suffering.

Cases are rare in which a victim can financially afford to pursue civil litigation against an abuser. However, in the majority of these cases, the cases are settled prior to trial with covenants not to disclose the settlement and with an agreement that the abuser is not admitting to any wrongdoing. Therefore, of the few civil cases actually ever pursued, the outcomes are usually suppressed from the public and therefore offer society no value to deter future abusers