Research on homicides has revealed the frequent existence of prior relationships between victims and offenders, prior police or child protection agency contact with victims, and the concentration of crimes in time and space. Thus, these findings suggest that violence is patterned, predictable, and possibly preventable. Using this approach to analyze family violence and applying the criminal career framework makes it possible to distinguish between the prevalence of criminals and the incidence of crimes. The application of this approach to past studies of family violence also suggests the importance of studying female offending as well as male offending for purposes of prediction, early intervention, and prevention. Data tables.