A TOTAL OF 97 INCIDENTS OF ASSAULT AND MURDER BY ADOLESCENTS IN CALIFORNIA WERE EXAMINED; IT WAS FOUND THAT THESE ACTS FELL INTO 6 CATEGORIES: VIOLENCE ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL OR NEUROLOGICAL ILLNESS; EXPLOSIONS OF AFFECT WHERE FRUSTRATION, JEALOUSY, OR RAGE WERE THE TRIGGERING EVENT; SEXUAL VIOLENCE TRACED TO HABITUAL DEVIANT SEXUAL BEHAVIOR; GROUP-SANCTIONED VIOLENCE; ACCIDENTAL VIOLENCE DURING FELONIOUS ACTS; AND INSTRUMENTAL VIOLENCE CHARACTERIZED BY RATIONAL CONTROL. THESE SIX CATEGORIES ARE SEEN AS AN IMPERFECT CLASSIFICATION OF ACTS OF VIOLENCE. NO VIOLENT ACT OCCURS IN COMPLETE ISOLATION AND THERE IS ANTECEDENT, INTERACTION, AND OUTCOME. SETTINGS, ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, AND TRIGGERING EVENTS ARE PART OF ANY VIOLENT ACT. A MODEL PICTURING THE VIOLENT ACT DEMONSTRATES THAT PREVENTION CAN BE APPLIED AT VARIOUS POINTS IN A SEQUENCE OF EVENTS, INVOLVING INDIVIDUALS AND ACTIONS. METHODS TO PREVENT AND REDUCE VIOLENCE CAN BE APPLIED TO THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE MODEL. THESE METHODS INCLUDE BIOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATION OF THE SUBJECT (PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS, REHABILITATION, PSYCHOTHERAPY), PSYCHOLOGICAL MODIFICATION OF THE VICTIM (COUNSELING, TRAINING, SOCIAL SERVICES), DAMAGE LIMITATION TO VICTIMS (EFFECTIVE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENT), REDUCTION OF AVAILABLE FORCE (REGULATING USE OF WEAPONS AND AUTOMOBILES); ANALYZING TRIGGER EVENTS (MANIPULATING AND NEGOTIATING SUCH EVENTS), AND MODIFYING THE SETTING (CHANGING THE PHYSICAL CHARACTER OF ENVIRONMENTS WHICH LEAD TO CRIME). THUS, VIOLENT ACTS MUST BE UNDERSTOOD IN TERMS OF ANTECEDENT EVENTS, ENVIRONMENTS, AVAILABLE FORCE, AND THE SUFFERING BORNE BY VICTIMS. BY ATTENDING TO THESE ELEMENTS IN THE MODEL OF VIOLENCE, SUCCESS MIGHT BE ACHIEVED IN COMBATING IT. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (MJW)