This report focuses on domestic violence victims, most of whom are women victimized by their spouses or ex-spouses, and examines the issue of whether calling the police increases or decreases a victim's chance of being victimized again. It was written as part of an effort by the Bureau of Justice Statistics to provide relevant information for the American public and practical guidelines for criminal justice professionals and policy makers. Findings from the National Crime Survey (NCS) for 1978 to 1982 are highlighted, some of which indicated that calling the police did seem to help prevent recurrences of domestic violence. Other studies conducted in Kansas City, Missouri and in Minneapolis, Minnesota are described which showed that the police could help to prevent domestic violence and that arresting the offender was an effective deterrant, respectively. Also presented are findings from a study which used NCS data to examine whether domestic violence victims should call the police. Findings are discussed which suggest that calling the police seemed to reduce a domestic violence victim's chance of revictimization. Seven data tables and lists of other Bureau of Justice Statistics reports are included. (NB)