Wife Assault, Costs of Arrest, and the Deterrence Process

Abstract

Drawing from a reconceptualization of deterrence, this article explores a measurement strategy that distinguishes between the social costs of illegal acts and those produced by legal sanctions. The validity of the measurement strategy is empirically evaluated using data from a national panel survey of violence between married or cohabiting partners. Respondents were asked to estimate the likelihood of assault costs (i.e., those resulting from the perpetration of assaultive acts against partners) compared to arrest costs (i.e., those resulting from an arrest for such behavior). Social costs include loss of attachments, loss of respect from significant others, and loss of self-respect. The preliminary evidence reported is consistent with the claim that perceived arrest costs, more than assault costs, significantly influence the deterrence process, at least for this type of illegal behavior. The implications of the findings for further research and policy are discussed.