The criminal justice approach clearly involves tertiary prevention and, to lesser degrees, secondary and primary prevention efforts. The public health approach to violence complements the criminal justice response by focusing mainly on primary prevention rather than on treatment. The four steps in the public health approach are: (1) public health surveillance; which consists of the ongoing, systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health data; (2) risk factor research; (3) the development and evaluation of programs for preventing sexual violence; and (4) the dissemination of information on what works. The CDC efforts to apply these four levels of prevention are new, so few data are available regarding what works. Overall, the prevention of sexual violence is extremely complicated. Both microlevel and macrolevel factors undoubtedly have important roles in the perpetration of sexual violence. Therefore, multiple levels of intervention are needed to control current perpetrators and prevent future ones from developing. The public health approach regards prevention as a continuum and offers an alternative and promising avenue toward the goal of prevention. 25 references (Author abstract modified)