New Jersey’s "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991" and its subsequent amendments offer strong protection to victims of domestic violence. The law confers both civil and criminal remedies. Victims may obtain civil restraining orders through municipal or Family courts, and mandatory arrests involve the criminal justice system.

The Domestic Violence Unit of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office is charged with enforcing the criminal provisions of New Jersey’s domestic violence law. Consolidated in this unit are all areas of domestic violence prosecution; contempt's (Violations of Restraining Orders) in the Superior Court, Family Part; indictable crimes domestic in nature in the Superior Court, Criminal Part; and forfeitures of weapons seized in domestic violence cases.

Cases assigned to the Domestic Violence Unit are processed by vertical prosecution, which means that one assistant prosecutor and investigator handle the case from receipt in the office through final disposition. The concept of vertical prosecution is often times employed in sensitive cases, such as sexual assault, child abuse and domestic violence, in order to bolster the confidence of victims and to ensure specially trained and sensitized personnel are assigned to the cases.

In addition to five attorneys and four investigators, the unit has two domestic violence counselors who meet with all victims in order to determine their needs and arrange shelter and counseling, if needed. The counselors assist victims with protection plans by offering free 9-1-1 cellular phones and alarm pendants. They will accompany victims to court, assist with VCCB applications and explain the criminal justice system and civil remedies to victims. Written notifications to victims on the status of their cases are sent out by the Office of Victim Witness Advocacy.

The unit, which is partially funded by a grant made available under the "Violence Against Women Act" (VAWA), answers legal questions for police departments, teaches at the Passaic County Police Academy and offers community presentations on domestic violence. The unit works closely with the Passaic County Women’s Center, a not-for-profit, State-designated organization that offers shelter and counseling to domestic violence victims. The unit also participates in the Passaic County Working Group on Domestic Violence, a group of representatives from the courts, governmental departments, hospitals and women’s agencies that meets bi-monthly to discuss and resolve domestic violence issues in the county.