There were 50,823 domestic violence offenses reported by the police in 1990, a 2-percent decrease from 1989. Murders increased 16 percent compared to 1989, and arrests increased 2 percent from 1989. Arrests were made in 34 percent of the offenses reported for 1990. Sunday was the most frequent day for domestic violence occurrences. For the eighth consecutive year, the most frequent hours of domestic violence incidents were between 8:00 p.m. and midnight. Children were involved or present during 53 percent of the domestic violence offenses. Wives were the victims in 39 percent of the incidents, and female friends of the perpetrators were the victims in 39 percent of the reported incidents. The number of domestic violence complaints that had prior court orders issued against the offender increased from 10,508 in 1989 to 10,695 in 1990. Alcohol or drugs were involved in 46 percent of the reported offenses. Alcohol involvement alone accounted for 41 percent of the reported domestic violence offenses. Persons aged 60 or over were victims in 3 percent of all reported domestic violence offenses. 7 tables and 3 figures