Children watch. They listen. They learn. And when it comes to domestic violence, they all too often grow up to do exactly what they have seen, heard and been taught by their parents — becoming the next generation of abusers and the abused.

In a five-part series beginning today, the Deseret Morning News takes a sobering look at one of the fastest-growing categories of crime in Utah. The series includes:

Sunday: A cycle of violence

Today: Children in crisis

Tuesday: The abusers

Wednesday: Falling through the cracks

Thursday: Preventing domestic abuse