THE WITNESS, A LEADER OF CHILD WELFARE EFFORTS IN CANADA, OFFERS AN OVERVIEW OF THE CONNECTION BETWEEN EARLY CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AND ADULT CRIMINALITY, THE EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN, AND THE NATURE OF CHILD ABUSE. MOST OF THE TESTIMONY CONSISTS OF RESONSES TO QUESTIONS POSED BY SENATORS REGARDING THE ROLE OF THE STATE IN DEALING WITH CHILD ABUSE. THE TESTIMONY TOUCHES ON PROBLEMS OF DIAGNOSING AND REPORTING CHILD ABUSE AND OF PROTECTING A CHILD ONCE AN ABUSIVE SITUATION IS KNOWN TO EXISTS. APPENDED TO THE TESTIMONY TRANSCRIPT IS A PAPER PREPARED BY THE WITNESS ON CHILD ABUSE. INCLUDED ARE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RESEARCH, LEGISLATION, AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY. --IN ENGLISH AND FRENCH. (LKM)