The two basic types of assessment for these families include investigative and interventive assessment. The former, often conducted by protective service or police personnel, aims to ascertain the severity and nature of the violent behavior. In the process, the interviewer must determine whether the children in the home should be removed for their own safety or whether the perpetrators are capable of controlling their behavior, recognize their behavior as being abusive, and are cooperative with the treatment plan. Interventive, or continuous, assessment, typically occurs after the crisis situation has stabilized where professionals gather data both on individuals and on the family system. Standardized measures, which can be used at the individual, family, and environment levels, have been developed to avoid interviewer bias. Interventions for violent families include the provision of shelters, the removal of the perpetrator, and the placement of endangered children. Therapeutic interventions or clinical interventions may include treatment for abusive parents, therapy for victims, family therapy, and community-based therapy. 117 references