BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT THE HISTORY AND LITERATURE OF SPOUSE ABUSE INDICATES THAT WIFE BEATING IS A LARGELY UNRECOGNIZED CRIME OF VIOLENCE, BY VIRTUE OF COMMON ACCEPTANCE OR MISUNDERSTANDING. STATISTICS SHOW, HOWEVER, THAT IT IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. MYTHS ABOUT BATTERED WOMEN CENTER AROUND THE CONCEPT OF A SADOMASOCHISTIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BATTERING MEN AND BEATEN WOMEN; NEITHER RESEARCH NOR EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THIS BELIEF. AMONG THE MANY OBSTACLES FACED BY BATTERED WOMEN ARE ECONOMIC SURVIVAL, DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING HELP FROM THE POLICE, FEELINGS OF FAILURE AS A SPOUSE, LACK OF PSYCHOLOGICAL AND OTHER SUPPORT TREATMENT ON A TIMELY BASIS, AND FEELINGS OF HELPLESSNESS DURING COURT PROCEEDINGS. STATE STATUTES AND CITY ORDINANCES VARY WIDELY IN THEIR HANDLING OF DOMESTIC ASSAULT; EXAMPLES OF LEGAL PROVISIONS IN THE U.S. ARE OFFERED. STATISTICS ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALLS AND ARRESTS IN DENVER SHOW THAT FEW OF THE 6,405 FAMILY DISTURBANCE CALLS RECEIVED BY POLICE FROM JULY 1, 1975 TO DECEMBER 31, 1975 RESULTED IN THE ARREST OF THE MAN INVOLVED IN A BATTERING INCIDENT. LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING IN INTERVENTION TECHNIQUES IS BEING INSTITUTED IN MANY CITIES. INTERVIEWS WITH BATTERED WOMEN IN DENVER REVEALED THAT, DESPITE REQUIRED TRAINING IN CRISIS INTERVENTION, THE DENVER POLICE DEPARTMENT PROVIDED INSENSITIVE AND UNRESPONSIVE TREATMENT TO MANY VICTIMS. THE PROSECUTION OF DENVER SPOUSE BATTERING CASES IS DIFFICULT TO EVALUATE; PROSECUTORS COMPLAIN THAT MANY CASES ARE CHARACTERIZED BY LACK OF EVIDENCE OR BY A CHANGE OF HEART ON THE PART OF THE VICTIM. ALTERNATIVES TO CRIMINAL ACTION IN DENVER ARE PROVIDED PRIMARILY BY SOCIAL SERVICES AND INCLUDE THE LEAA-FUNDED YORK STREET CENTER, WHICH OFFERS LIMITED SHELTER. THE ONLY STATE-FUNDED SERVICES ARE INDIVIDUAL CASEWORK FACILITIES OFFERED THROUGH COUNTY FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES UNITS. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE PRESENTED RELATING TO PROGRAMS FOR BATTERED WOMEN: ESTABLISHMENT OF A 24-HOUR TELEPHONE SERVICE, TRAINING OF CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAMS, INCREASED EFFORTS BY THE DENVER DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, DATA COLLECTION, AND PUBLIC INFORMATION ON BATTERED WOMEN. NOTES ARE PROVIDED FOR EACH CHAPTER, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS SUPPLIED. (DAS)