The existing literature on physical and sexual violence by and against children in Canada is limited. Accurate statistics (official or unofficial) on the incidence of violence against children do not exist, because most research focuses on one aspect of the problem. The incidence of violence by children is also difficult to determine with accuracy. Physical violence against children is widely viewed as an extension of socially acceptable punishment patterns or as a logical consequence of parental disciplinary action. Many discipline-related factors have been linked to child abuse, including rigid parenting styles, unrealistic expectations of child development, parents who are physically punished as children, high levels of support for corporal punishment, and using below-average levels of coercion. Sexual violence against children has been linked to the patriarchal structure of families, in which the father, under extreme conditions, is led to believe that he "sexually owns" the females under his care. In other situations, the adult child abuser has been a victim of abuse as a child. This cycle of violence suggests that early childhood experiences are powerful determinants of later behavior. It is estimated that the overall rate of violent youth crime has increased tenfold since the early 1960s. Youth court statistics show that the proportion of violent offenses coming before the court has increased from 11 to 18 percent in recent years. After examining physical and sexual violence committed by juveniles, the author presents an overview of societal responses to violence by and against children. Generally, the literature on responses to child abuse focuses on two approaches: one that involves treatment and one that emphasizes punishment and deterrence through the criminal justice system. 5 notes and 87 references