Whether arrest policies promote the prevention, cessation, or reduction of intimate partner violence remains an open question. This paper reviews research on arrest and intimate partner violence, documenting mixed findings and contending that it suffers from an insufficiently developed theoretical foundation. The paper presents an analytical framework that integrates deterrence theory, other theoretical perspectives on the preventive effects of sanctions, and factors that may moderate those effects. The goal is to stimulate further research that tests deterrence and alternative theories of violence prevention, thereby enhancing an understanding of how sanctions influence intimate partner violence. Through this review it is suggested that sanctions have a complex connection to human behavior, particularly violent behavior in intimate relationships. An expanded specification of deterrence theory is proposed that builds on previous empirical studies, distinguishes alternative mediating influences of sanctions, and integrates risk assessment as a strategy to estimate the moderating influences on sanction threats and experiences. References