Sometimes waiting in the Family Violence court, I just wonder, “How many victims are there really in a family violence case?” The answer can be elusive.

When I accept a pro bono family violence case, I meet the immediate victim, someone battered by a spouse, live-in lover, occasional lover or “just a friend.” Often, the victim is raising a child or children. Each child sees one parent regularly beat the other.

How many victims are there in a family violence case? I add the original victim's and batterer's child or children. The batterer literally pounds cruel lessons home. The children learn them young, filing them in the backs of minds, to surface later. An impulse to beat or to let a batterer attack can lie in wait, until a threat, tantrum or argument triggers it.