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You are here: Resources / Domestic Violence / Children and Domestic Violence

Child Witnesses to Domestic Violence (PDF)
Child Abuse and Neglect State Statutes Series from the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information. 37 pages.

Children and Domestic Violence: Challenges for Prosecutors (PDF)
Discusses challenges faced by prosecutors when children are exposed to domestic violence, new laws affecting practice and ways prosecutors can help battered women and their children. From the U.S. Department of Justice, November 2000. 112 pages.

Breaking the Cycle of Violence: Recommendations to Improve the Criminal Justice System Response to Child Victims and Witnesses (PDF)
From the Office for Victims of Crime, 1999. 36 pages.

Research of Interest

Child Custody Determinations in Cases Involving Intimate Partner Violence: a Human Rights Analysis
Jay G Silverman, Cynthia M Mesh, Carrie V Cuthbert, Kim Slote, Lundy Bancroft. American Journal of Public Health. Washington: Jun 2004.Vol.94, Iss. 6; pg. 951, 7 pgs

Intimate partner violations and child abuse are recognized both as public health concerns and as violations of human rights, but related government actions and inactions are rarely documented as human rights violations in the US. Silverman et al provide a human rights analysis of child custody determinations in cases involving intimate partner violence.

What Are Providers' Reporting Requirements for Children Who Witness Domestic Violence?
Therese Zink, Darlene Kamine, Lauren Musk, Morgan Sill, et al. Clinical Pediatrics. Glen Head: Jun 2004.Vol.43, Iss. 5; pg. 449

Each year, 3.3 to 10 million children are exposed to domestic violence/abuse (DV). Providers' reporting obligations for these children are unclear. The child maltreatment statutes available on state's web sites (through August 2003) were reviewed. Only Alaska defines DV in the presence of a child as child abuse within its juvenile code. Within their child abuse definition and reporting statutes, many states include language such as "substantial risk" or "imminent danger" of "physical harm" or "mental injury." Although knowledge of the state law is an important first step, abiding by it may be challenging because most statutes are open to wide interpretation. As a result, providers are encouraged to seek advice from local child maltreatment specialists who understand the local legal interpretations and resources.

Early Identification, Prevention, and Early Intervention with Young Children At Risk for Emotional or Behavioral Disorders: Issues, Trends, and a Call for Action
Maureen A Conroy, William H Brown. Behavioral Disorders. Tempe: May 2004.Vol.29, Iss. 3; pg. 224.

Educators have frequently expressed concern about young children who are exposed to known environmental risk factors associated with the development of chronic behavior problems (e.g., poverty, domestic violence, child maltreatment). Nevertheless, a societal commitment to address these environmental risk factors by identifying young children who are at risk for or are demonstrating chronic problem behaviors and to provide effective prevention and early intervention services has not been forthcoming. Although researchers have developed a number of effective early identification, prevention, and early intervention strategies, several significant barriers to the widespread implementation of those practices remain. The authors discuss these issues as they affect children who have emotional or behavioral disorders. They argue for societal action to change current policies and practices for young children.