Probation departments, including juvenile probation departments, can provide early identification of family violence cases which can then lead to early intervention. Probation officers should routinely investigate for child abuse when presented with spouse assault cases and should look for wife abuse when presented with spouse assault cases and should look for wife abuse during the investigation of a child abuse case. Probation officers are ideally positioned to intervene on behalf of children. Case advocacy and family assessment should include both civil and criminal cases. Probation officers can provide pretrial monitoring of offenders placed under civil protection orders pending trial on criminal charges, can promote the establishment of central information systems to track families, and can require reporting on violent family incidents to all agencies involved. Probation departments should assign family violence offenders to the highest level of supervision possible and monitor them intensively. Family correlates and the impact of violence are discussed as well as characteristics of batterers. Elements of model probation orders for violent family members are outlined. 20 notes