Barbados Attorney General Dale Marshall has issued a compelling call for immediate and comprehensive research into the connection between domestic abuse and the rising tide of violent crimes among school-aged boys. Speaking at the opening of a two-day Regional Symposium to Advance State Responses on Domestic Violence at the Hilton Barbados Resort, Marshall emphasized that unstable family environments are cultivating a generation predisposed to gang involvement and criminal behavior. Supported by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and the government, the symposium aims to address domestic abuse across the region and its root causes. Marshall argued that violence within the home and youth delinquency cannot be treated as isolated issues, stating that the link between dysfunctional families and criminal activity is ‘almost intuitive.’ He highlighted the government’s efforts to stabilize families through initiatives like the One Family Programme, which allocates significant public funds to support vulnerable households. Marshall warned that without addressing domestic violence, the cycle of crime will persist, as dysfunctional families often produce young individuals who gravitate toward gangs. He cited alarming cases of teenagers charged with serious crimes, including firearm homicides and robberies, underscoring the urgency of targeted interventions. While the Criminal Justice Research Unit is investigating the issue, Marshall stressed that action cannot wait for studies to conclude. He framed domestic violence as a long-term societal challenge, emphasizing the need to reorient dysfunctional families to prevent future crime waves. Marshall concluded that failing to break the intergenerational transmission of violence will leave the country managing crime fallout rather than reducing it.