Everett law adds additional consequences for domestic violence

EVERETT — The Everett City Council unanimously voted Wednesday to add additional criminal penalties against people who commit domestic violence in the presence of children.

The new law criminalizes the act of exposing a child to domestic violence, adding an additional penalty on top of existing state laws that outlaw domestic violence . Individuals would be arrested under the new law if they are charged with committing an act of domestic violence and it was done in the presence of, or witnessed by, someone under 18.

Research has linked witnessing domestic abuse as a child to long-term health complications, both behavioral and physical. Between three and ten million children witness violence between their caregivers or parents each year, according to the American Academy of Child an