Data on more than 13,000 domestic dispute incidents and on a random sample of almost 6,500 incidents in 230 police jurisdictions formed the basis of the analysis. Suburban areas had the highest reported domestic dispute rate, the lowest tendency to initiate criminal complaints under Ohio's Domestic Violence Program, and a lower rate of arrests and referrals to other agencies than urban areas. Urban areas had a lower reported domestic dispute rate but a stronger tendency to arrest offenders under the Ohio program. Rural areas had a higher reported domestic dispute rate than urban areas, arrested fewer offenders, and made more referrals to other agencies than suburban areas. Urban, suburban, and rural police jurisdictions appeared to have different approaches to handling domestic disputes and domestic violence. Police need to accept the notion that felonious domestic assaults are felonious assaults if they are to handle domestic violence adequately. Proper training of police and provision of transportation to other agencies are needed as well. However, dealing with the domestic violence problem requires a community response, with police only the initial contact. Multiple actions may be more effective than any single effort. Data tables and 27 references are supplied.