Judge Harding agreed with her lawyer Glenn Dixon that the primary source of the violence on the children had been Major.
While she had less ability to respond because of the violence inflicted on her, Rose still failed to act, he said. "Your culpability was markedly less than your partner's," he said.
Rose's probation report referred to a history of violence, gang associations and extensive alcohol and drug abuse.
A drug abuse counsellor said Rose had showed no motivation to deal with her substance abuse problems. The court heard how each of her older children had been kept out of school for about 40 days last year because she was unwilling to publicly reveal her bruises and black eyes.
Judge Harding said he was not confident Rose would cope with home detention. Her four months' imprisonment included a two-month reduction for her guilty plea. She was ordered to undertake alcohol and drug abuse treatment programmes.
Mr Dixon said Rose felt powerless to protect the children because of the amount of ongoing violence against her, but acknowledged that she had failed her children.