The first section of the report portrays the nature of spouse abuse through case histories told by the victims. The impact of violence on the children is also considered. A general profile of the battering male is provided, sketched largely from the descriptions offered by the abused spouse and behavioral science professionals. Attention is given to why women tolerate the abuse, and the options open for women to escape the abuse are examined. The second section of the report considers the interaction of the battered woman with the legal and social service systems in the community. A chapter is devoted to groups in the social service network to whom women may turn for help. A Louis Harris Poll reported that more than one in five Kentucky women have experienced violence from their spouse, but this report indicates that the prevalence of this crime is surprising, largely because the families involved hide its existence, and public officials and community agencies function so as to reinforce the secrecy. Consequently, there is an urgent need to acknowledge wife battering as a serious and pervasive crime in the State. Presently, the possibility for a battered woman in Kentucky to be freed from abuse is tenuous at best, particularly in the rural areas of the State, where the prospects of receiving assistance range from being severely limited to nonexistent. Effective service delivery is complicated by lack of funds, personnel, and issues of territorial prerogative which block communication among helping personnel. Eight footnotes and four bibliographic entries are provided.