Parent-child abuse cases tended to deviate substantially from expected norms concerning familial roles and recognized authority or permission to resort to violence. Both family status and gender affected patterns of parent-child abuse reported to the police. The arrest decision of police was influenced most strongly by incident seriousness, as measured by offense severity and extent of victim injury. Arrest likelihood was also affected by offender race, but the influence of this variable was mediated by offense seriousness. Study findings highlight the role of a family's value system in the reporting of parent-child abuse incidents and in the police decision to intervene. 22 references, 6 tables. (Author abstract modified)