TWO CATEGORIES OF BATTERED CHILDREN ARE DEFINED: (1) SEVERE RISK-MONTHLY REVIEW, INCLUDES FAMILIES WHERE PARENTS ARE KNOWN TO HAVE INJURED A CHILD OR WHERE SEVERE INJURY HAS OCCURRED IN THE PAST, FAMILIES STRONGLY SUSPECTED OF INFLICTING INJURY, AND FAMILIES WITH THE GENERALLY RECOGNIZED HEAVY WEIGHTING OF PREDISPOSING SOCIAL FACTORS; AND (2) LOW RISK-QUARTERLY REVIEW, INCLUDES CHILDREN UNDER 3 YEARS OF AGE WITH A BONE FRACTURE FROM ANY CAUSE, CHILDREN UNDER 1 YEAR BRUISED MORE THAN COULD REASONABLY BE EXPECTED AT THIS AGE, AND FAMILIES WHERE SUSPICION OF INJURY OR PREDISPOSING FACTORS ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY STRONG FOR THE SEVERE RISK GROUP CLASSIFICATION. ALTHOUGH VIOLENCE IS EASY TO RECOGNIZE AND DRAMATIC IN ITS EFFECTS, IT IS NOT NECESSARILY MORE DANGEROUS OR DAMAGING THAN CONTINUAL AND EXTENSIVE AGGRESSION. TO BE CLASSIFIED AS SEVERE, ABUSE CASES ARE OFTEN REQUIRED TO DEMONSTRATE ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING FACTORS: PROLONGED ASSAULTS OF SUCH SEVERITY THAT DEATH ENSUES, SKULL OR FACIAL BONE FRACTURES, BLEEDING INTO OR AROUND THE BRAIN, TWO OR MORE MUTILATIONS REQUIRING MEDICAL ATTENTION, THREE OR MORE SEPARATE INSTANCES OF FRACTURE, AND MULTIPLE FRACTURES, AND/OR SEVERE INTERNAL INJURIES. THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP AMONG PHYSICAL INJURY, MALNUTRITION, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL NEGLECT, AND COMBINATIONS OF THESE FACTORS MAY BE SYNERGISTIC. CHILDREN WHO SURVIVE BATTERING MAY SUFFER BRAIN DAMAGE WHICH CAUSES MENTAL RETARDATION, CEREBRAL PALSY, AND BLINDNESS. THERE IS ALSO A DELAYED EFFECT OF EARLY ABUSE; VIOLENT BEHAVIOR IN LATER LIFE CAN BE THE RESULT OF BATTERING IN CHILDHOOD. THE PRACTICE OF CHILD BATTERING MAY THEREFORE REPEAT ITSELF OVER SEVERAL GENERATIONS IN THE SAME FAMILY. HEALTH VISITING AND EDUCATION, PRIMARY HEALTH TEAMS LED BY GENERAL PRACTITIONERS, AND ANTENATAL AND WELL BABY CLINICS, ARE EFFECTIVE PREVENTION TECHNIQUES. SCHOOLS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN PREVENTION, AS WELL AS THE COURTS. COURT WELFARE SERVICES CAN BE DEVELOPED TO INVOLVE PROBATION SERVICES AND LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENTS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, CHILD PSYCHIATRISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND TRAINING IN CHILD WELFARE PRINCIPLES. TESTIMONY ON FAMILY VIOLENCE AND DATA ON BATTERED CHILDREN AND PARENTS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM ARE PROVIDED. AN EXTENSIVE LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (DEP)