RESEARCH INDICATES THAT WIFE BEATING EXISTS IN ALL SOCIAL CLASSES, AND IN BOTH RURAL AND URBAN SETTINGS, ALTHOUGH THE REPORTING OF THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN INADEQUATE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANY PRECISE STATISTICS. OVER HALF (287) OF THE 500 WOMEN REPRESENTED IN DIVORCE ACTIONS IN 1976 BY THE BROOKLYN (NY) LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION COMPLAINED OF BEING PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED BY THEIR HUSBANDS. OF 600 DIVORCING COUPLES IN CLEVELAND, 36.8 PERCENT OF THE WIVES POLLED COMPLAINED OF BEING BEATEN BY THEIR HUSBANDS. IT IS FELT THAT VIOLENCE WITHIN FAMILIES OUGHT TO BE SEEN AS A PUBLIC ISSUE, AND NOT MERELY A PERSONAL PROBLEM. BECAUSE WIVES ARE ECONOMICALLY BOUND TO THEIR HUSBANDS, THERE MAY BE A CONSTANT DANGER OF REPEATED ATTACKS AND RETALIATION FOR PROSECUTION. IT IS INDICATED THAT CHILD SUPPORT AGREEMENTS MAY BE DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE, PARTICULARLY WITH THE SEPARATION OF THE SPOUSES. MANY BEATEN WIVES THEREFORE CHOOSE TO RISK FURTHER ASSAULTS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN SUPPORT FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN. ALTHOUGH THE LAW WOULD ASSIST A SEVERELY BEATEN SPOUSE, THE ENFORCEMENT POLICIES OF MOST JURISDICTIONS IN FACT GIVE THE SPOUSES THE RIGHT TO INFLICT PHYSICAL ABUSE UPON EACH OTHER, WHILE TREATING SUCH ACTS AS MERELY PERSONAL MATTERS. INTERPERSONAL MURDERS AMOUNTED TO 15.8 PERCENT OF THE CRIMINAL HOMICIDES COMMITTED IN 1967, AND FAMILY DISTURBANCES FREQUENTLY RESULT IN INJURY TO RESPONDING OFFICERS. IT IS BELIEVED THAT INTRAFAMILIAL HOMICIDES ARE BUT THE APEX OF A SERIES OF PREVIOUS ASSAULTS. WHILE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO PREDICT WHICH SPOUSE WILL COMMIT MURDER, A STUDY FOUND THAT WHEN WOMEN KILLED MEN, THE MALE VICTIMS PRECIPITATED THE VIOLENT INCIDENT IN 45 PERCENT OF 88 CASES. OF THE VICTIM-PRECIPITATED MATE SLAYINGS, 28 VICTIMS WERE MEN AND 5 WERE WOMEN. VIOLENCE IN THE HOME MAY BE LEARNED BY CHILDREN AND PERPETUATED THROUGH SUCCESSIVE GENERATIONS. PROTECTION OF THE VICTIMS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE IS RECOMMENDED. (TWK)