Family disturbance calls, many of which involve spouse violence, constitute the largest category of calls received by the police each year. In recent years, the method of police intervention has changed from apparent indifference or compassionate mediation to firmer control and mandatory arrest. This change has occurred even though there are but two empirical studies indicating that control strategies may be effective in reducing wife beating. Further, no formal evaluations are available to explain the theory underlying alternative approaches that police might use to intervene in wife abuse cases. The analysis of control interventions and the alternative approach of compassion indicates that the basic nature of these two intervention approaches is not as simple as proposed by each approach's advocates. It is clearly premature to accept without question the notion that control interventions are the solution to the wife abuse problem. More research and theoretical development are needed to understand the deterrence process and wife abuse prevention. 45 references. (Author abstract modified)