Many factors may contribute to the increased risk of girls and young women for violence. Such factors include societal attitudes that implicitly sanction violence and inadequate health, police, and judicial responses to violence against women by their male intimates. These and associated factors may also be related to the underreporting of violence against girls and young women. Data on interpersonal violence are lacking for both males and females, but the scarcity of data on the sociocultural and life course context of violence against women is particularly significant. Patterns of violence against girls and young women are reviewed in terms of the nature and context of violence, homicide and physical fighting, child physical abuse, child sexual abuse, and dating violence. General risk patterns are presented, and important areas regarding violence against girls and young women are noted that focus on sibling abuse, psychological abuse, gang rape, and sexual harassment. Knowledge gaps and service needs relative to violence against girls and young women are noted, and public policy recommendations are offered. 57 references