An often overlooked element is that children who are physically abused, neglected, or only the witnesses to family violence, often are identical in later years in terms of their behavior. The findings form the basis for a forceful argument that family violence is a criminology issue which should play a part in current criminal justice policy making. The focus of much research has been on intergenerational transmission of violence; those who have been abused as children will be more likely to repeat this violence themselves as adults. Many of the best known studies use a retrospective strategy to discover that current abusers were themselves abused as children. The paper also discusses behavioral problems and delinquency, links of abuse to violence, witnessing violence, and how all of these should be the foundation for a criminal justice policy which will deal forcefully with abused and neglected children. 90 references (Author abstract modified)