UNTIL 1970, THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY OF VIOLENCE IN AMERICA WAS PUBLISHED IN THE TASK FORCE VOLUMES OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON THE CAUSES AND PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE. MOST COMMISSION FINDINGS ON CRIMINAL HOMICIDE, FORCIBLE RAPE, ROBBERY, AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULT ARE STILL VALID. WITH RESPECT TO LITERATURE ON CRIMES OF VIOLENCE, THE ANNUAL PUBLICATIONS' GROWTH RATE HAS BEEN HIGHER THAN THAT FOR ALL CRIMINAL ANALYSES, BUT THE EXTENT TO WHICH THAT LITERATURE INFORMS ITS READERS ABOUT PUBLIC POLICY IS NOT CLEAR. MOST OF THE RESEARCH IS DESCRIPTIVE RATHER THAN EXPLANATORY; LITTLE IS DIRECTED TO MAJOR SOCIAL POLICY SUGGESTIONS, AND PROBABLY LITTLE IS DISSEMINATED IN ANY COORDINATED WAY TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS, LEGISLATORS, OR MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY. IT IS POSSIBLE, HOWEVER, TO GENERALIZE ABOUT THE BASIC EMPHASIS AND CONCLUSIONS. FIRST, IN THE SOCIOLOGY OF CRIME AND CRIMINALITY, EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON CULTURAL AND GROUP FORCES THAT PRODUCE ACTORS WHO REPRESENT FORMS OF DEVIANCE FROM THE DOMINANT VALUE, OR MORAL DEMAND, SYSTEM. THE INDIVIDUAL OFFENDER IS NOT IGNORED; HE IS SIMPLY CLUSTERED WITH OTHER INDIVIDUALS SIMILAR IN ATTRIBUTES DEEMED THEORETICALLY OR STATISTICALLY MEANINGFUL. HENCE, RESEARCHERS USE MEANS, MEDIANS, MODES, PROBABILITY, INFERENTIAL STATISTICS, AND MATHEMATICAL MODELS FOR ANALYZING PREDOMINANT BEHAVIOR PATTERNS. SINCE 1960, CRIMES OF VIOLENCE HAVE INCREASED AT LEAST 180 PERCENT; JUVENILE ARRESTS FOR VIOLENT CRIMES BY 293 PERCENT. EXPLANATIONS FOR THE INCREASE USUALLY INCLUDE SUCH FACTORS AS UNEMPLOYMENT, BROKEN HOMES, INADEQUATE EDUCATION, HOUSING, RACIAL INJUSTICE, RELATIVE DEPRIVATION, LACK OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND LENIENCY IN THE COURTS. WITH REGARD TO RESEARCH ON BIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL FACTORS IN CRIMINALITY, MOST FINDINGS ARE INCONCLUSIVE AND CONCERNED WITH GENETICS, BRAIN DISORDERS, AND HORMONE LEVELS. HOWEVER, IT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED THAT BRAIN TUMORS, PARTICULARLY THOSE AFFECTING THE LIMBIC SYSTEM, CAN CAUSE UNPROVOKED VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. PRESENT KNOWLEDGE ABOUT VIOLENT BEHAVIOR IS INSUFFICIENT; FUTURE RESEARCH EFFORTS SHOULD FOCUS UPON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BIOLOGICAL FACTORS, ENDOCRINE LEVELS, AND NUTRITION WITH FAMILIAL AND MACROSOCIAL FORCES. REFERENCES PROVIDED. (LWM)