Report finds Wis. domestic abuse dropped

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - New findings from the state Justice Department show the number of domestic abuse incidents reported to police dropped slightly in 2011.

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The agency released its annual report on domestic violence Monday. According to the findings, 28,539 domestic abuse incidents were reported to police and referred to prosecutors, down 4.7 percent from 29,941 incidents in 2010.

Nearly half the victims were between 18 and 29 years old. Police made an arrest in 71 percent of the incidents. Less than 1 percent of the incidents resulted in more than one arrest.

The common sentence imposed was some type of financial obligation, such as restitution, court costs or a fine. The second most common was confinement followed by behavioral requirements such as no contact with a person or firearm prohibition.