The current balance of scientific evidence from the particular sites studied suggests that although arrest is not superior to a variety of other criminal justice interventions in domestic violence, there is no clearly better alternative. Consequently, unless there are legal, ethical, or practical reasons to prefer some other intervention, arrest is a viable option for police in responding to domestic violence incidents. There is some new evidence that arrest can have differential effects, however, depending on the offender's background. More studies must be conducted to identify which offender factors consistently determine the effectiveness of arrest in deterring violence. High-risk offenders, defined by prior record and the seriousness of the immediate offense, are likely to become more violent with the victim if released after arrest. A wise policy might be to couple arrest with protective measures for the victims, such as holding the offender in jail until a bail hearing and then denying bail. Restraining orders could be automatically signed, and victims could be encouraged to enter a shelter. Data analysis from six new experimental sites is not yet complete.