I have learned of the abuses my parents suffered. it helped me understand why they were the way they were and why they did the things they did. No, it wasn't an excuse for their behavior. Their acts were and will always be criminal. But it helped me to understand. They didn't do those things to us because of us. They did those things to us because of them. Because of their life experiences.
It was that understanding that was the most helpful for us.