Children are traumatized by community and domestic violence exposure as victims and witnesses. Information on the effects of violence exposure on children will be presented including developmental implications, resultant behaviors, and the most extreme reaction, posttraumatic stress disorder. Parental and caregiver traumatization will also be discussed. Prevention and early intervention is very important both to reduce exposure to violence and to reach children shortly after exposure. Therefore, the role of the mental health professional as an interventionist with first responders such as law enforcement will be discussed as a way to reach traumatized children earlier. A model for mental health professionals to develop collaborations with judges and lawyers who work in juvenile court will be presented. The conclusion will describe ways to provide education and relevant information to police and the court on how to help traumatized children.