The official justification by Federal and State agencies for not focusing on API Americans as a separate group has been that their numbers are too small, too diverse, and too dispersed throughout the country to make meaningful data collection possible. Further, national statistics on API homicides are difficult to interpret, since suicide and homicide rates are combined. An area that has received limited attention is the area of child and spouse abuse within API communities. Data indicate that most API abuse cases involve physical abuse and that child maltreatment is related to cultural variations in family structure, child rearing patterns, and different life experiences. Although quantitative data are not available on the extent of violence suffered by API adolescent females, anecdotal reports suggest that many are victims of stranger rape, date rape, and dating violence. In addition, the emergence of Asian youth gangs in communities with significant Asian concentrations has attracted the attention of the media and law enforcement. Literature on violence is reviewed that indicates age, educational achievement, home ownership, and place of residence are all associated with youth and adult violence and that illustrates links among gangs, weapons, drugs, and violence. The role of ethnicity in interpreting and responding to victimization is considered, knowledge gaps and research needs are identified, and public policy recommendations are offered. 59 references and 2 tables