Other limitations of the studies include the failure to take into account the effects of the different police options used. For example, in Colorado Springs, the issuance of emergency protective orders might have confused the results. In Milwaukee, warnings from police might have frightened victims away from calling for further help. Summary These replication studies did not show that arrest definitely deters future violence by all types of domestic abusers. However, looking only at arrest and only at levels of repeated violence is an oversimplification.
Recidivism is an inadequate measure of the effects of arrest.
The results of giving this message may not be immediately measurable. Since no alternative intervention by police has been consistently shown to be more effective than arrest, arrest for domestic violence seems morally correct. It treats domestic violence as a serious crime that is comparable to other crimes. Mean jail time following arrest was about 16 hours. Arresting offender at incident.