Most of the documents were published between 1977 and 1991. They examine the physical and emotional effects of domestic assault on children, the frequency of child abuse in homes which spouse abuse occurs, and methods of detecting child abuse when investigating spouse abuse. The papers note that children who witness or are accidental victims of parental violence experience physical, cognitive, and emotional harm at all stages of development. However, judges involved in domestic violence cases often do not fully understand these issues. The Federal and State legislation focuses on judicial training related to domestic violence, child custody and visitation, and parental rights of persons with a history of domestic violence.