THE TREND TOWARD A SOCIAL WORK APPROACH TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS TRACED. CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAMS AND OTHER POLICE EFFORTS TO DEAL WITH THIS DIFFICULT PROBLEM ARE BRIEFLY REVIEWED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT, DISTASTEFUL AS THE JOB IS TO POLICE OFFICERS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MUST REMAIN A POLICE RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THE POLICE ARE THE ONLY ONES EQUIPPED TO HANDLE FAMILY DISTURBANCES. THE QUESTION IS: WHAT SHOULD THE LEGAL SYSTEM'S RESPONSE BE AFTER THE DISPUTE HAS BEEN HALTED BY POLICE INTERVENTION? EXPERIENCE INDICATES THAT IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE TO DROP THE MATTER AT THIS POINT. DOMESTIC DISPUTES OFTEN CONTINUE TO ESCALATE UNTIL SERIOUS VIOLENCE TAKES PLACE. ADEQUATE RECORDS SHOULD THEREFORE BE KEPT SO THAT THOSE RESPONDING TO SUBSEQUENT CALLS WILL KNOW OF THE DISPUTANTS' PRIOR HISTORY. THE 'SLAP ON THE WRISTS' WHICH IS COMMON IN THE COURTS TODAY DOES LITTLE TO STOP THE PROBLEM. SOCIAL SERVICE RESPONSES TO THE PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN UNDUE EMPHASIS, FOR THERE IS SIMPLY NO EVIDENCE THAT THEY PREVENT REPETITION. INSTEAD, FULL CRIMINAL SANCTIONS INCLUDING FINES, JAILS, EMBARRASSMENT, AND SUCH SHOULD BE INVOKED, AT LEAST AFTER THE SECOND ASSAULT--AFTER THE FIRST IF IT IS SERIOUS. SOCIAL SERVICES MAY BE PART OF THE PROCESS, BUT THEY SHOULD BE SUBORDINATED. THIS APPROACH WILL NOT INCREASE DIVORCE AND WELFARE ROLLS SIGNIFICANTLY. LENIENCY HAS NOT WORKED IN THIS AREA AND ONLY IF OFFENDERS KNOW THAT MARITAL VIOLENCE WILL BE PROSECUTED, JUST AS ANY OTHER ASSAULT, WILL THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE OFFENSE BE REALIZED. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)