STATISTICS FROM NEW YORK CITY, BROOKLYN LEGAL SERVICES, AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD., SHOW THAT WIFE BEATING IS COMMON, THAT IT IS OFTEN UNREPORTED, AND THAT IT IS NOT LIMITED TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. CASE HISTORIES AND QUOTATIONS ILLUSTRATE THE INDIFFERENCE FELT BY POLICE, COURTS, AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES TOWARD THIS OFFENSE. IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT PREGNANCY INCREASES BATTERING AND THAT MANY BATTERED WOMEN SUFFER MISCARRIAGES, STILL-BIRTHS, OR DEFORMED OR BRAIN-DAMAGED CHILDREN AS A RESULT OF THE BEATINGS. THE STORIES REPORT REPEATED INEFFECTIVE ATTEMPTS TO GET THE POLICE TO INTERVENE. COURTS REPEATEDLY RELEASE HUSBANDS ON THEIR OWN RECOGNIZANCE REGARDLESS OF THE SEVERITY OF THE WIFE'S INJURIES, AND COURT WORKERS CONTINUE TO BE INDIFFERENT. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THIS LACK OF CONCERN INCREASES WIFE BEATING. SOCIETY TENDS TO FEEL THAT THE FAMILY SHOULD BE PRESERVED AT ALL COSTS, THAT WOMEN STAY IN BATTERING SITUATIONS BECAUSE THEY GET SATISFACTION FROM THEM (WHEN THE TRUTH IS THAT THEY HAVE NO MONEY OR ARE AFRAID TO LEAVE) AND THAT WIFE BEATING IS A PRIVATE AFFAIR. CASES IN WHICH LACK OF SOCIAL SUPPORT HAS DRIVEN THE WIFE TO SUICIDE OR HOMICIDE ARE CITED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT POLICE AND COURT ATTITUDES NEED TO BE CHANGED AND SOCIAL SUPPORT NEEDS TO BE MORE VISIBLE. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)