The Effects of Exposure to Domestic Violence on Babies and Children

Drawing from extensive judicial experience with families affected by domestic abuse, Judges Carol Kelly and Judge Rolando Prescott deliver a firm message to parents: children do not need to directly witness physical assault to suffer severe, long-term harm. Exposure to verbal threats, coercive control, financial abuse, or the immediate aftermath of violence inflicts serious psychological and physiological damage, with infants and toddlers being the most vulnerable due to their rapidly developing brain architecture. Drawing on developmental research, the "Still Face Experiment," and genetic studies from Tulane University, the presentation shows how chronic fear triggers toxic stress, degrades neural connections in reasoning centers, and shortens protective telomeres on chromosomes, increasing lifetime risks for heart disease, diabetes, and premature mortality. Ultimately, the judges urge parents to immediately stop abusive behaviors or remove their children from violent environments to allow healing through trauma-informed care.