Evergreen Reporter

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has approved an initial set of 78 communities across 47 states, territories, and the District of Columbia for designation under Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022.

The Justice Department, through its United States Attorney’s offices (USAOs) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Field Divisions, will partner with each designated jurisdiction to develop a plan to reduce intimate partner firearm violence and prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders prohibited under 18 U.S. Code Section 922(g) from owning firearms.

Communities have been designated in close coordination with community stakeholders. They include rural areas, suburban areas, urban areas, and Tribal communities. The Justice Department used data to identify communities that could benefit from increased focus on intimate partner violence resources and where the local jurisdiction is committed to partnering with the Department to increase the use of federal tools to prosecute offenders under 18 U.S.C. 922(g). The designation represents the partnership and coordination between the department and the local jurisdiction to ensure federal resources are being leveraged effectively to address intimate partner firearm violence.

In the District of Columbia, Ward 7 has been designated.

The Justice Department anticipates additional jurisdictions will be designated as USAOs continue coordination with their local stakeholders. All USAOs, regardless of specific community designations under Section 1103, will continue to combat intimate partner firearm violence and prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders as part of their Project Safe Neighborhoods strategy and in support of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime.

Complete List of Jurisdictions as of September 11, 2024:

Montgomery County, Alabama

Jefferson County, Alabama

Little Rock, Arkansas

Washington County, Arkansas

Fresno, California

San Diego, California

Hartford, Connecticut

Ward 7, District of Columbia

Jacksonville, Florida

Alachua County, Florida

Metro Miami-Dade County, Florida

Macon-Bibb County, Georgia

DeKalb County, Georgia

Augusta, Georgia

City and County of Honolulu,

Hawaii Ada County,

Idaho Danville,

Illinois Rockford,

Illinois Madison County,

Illinois Gary,

Indiana Indianapolis,

Indiana Des Moines,

Iowa Linn County,

Iowa Garden City,

Kansas Fayette County,

Kentucky Louisville,

Kentucky Orleans Parish,

Louisiana Rapides Parish,

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