The sample consisted of misdemeanor spouse arrest cases over a 99-week period in Charlotte, North Carolina, where victim and offender were both at least 18 years old, both were on the scene when the responding officer arrived, and there was no imminent danger posed either to the victim or the arresting officer. A total of 184 offenders randomly received a citation, while 259 were arrested. The findings showed that offenders who received a citation had a higher rate of failure to appear. Nonetheless, the financial savings from using citations was substantial and, on a purely empirical level, outweighed the risk of failure to appear. However, the authors note that in domestic violence causes, issuing a citation rather than arresting the offender might place the victim at increased risk of harm. 3 tables, 1 note, and 13 references