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 gun violence and prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders prohibited under 18 U.S. Code Section 922(g) from owning firearms. In the Eastern District of New York, Brooklyn has been designated as one such jurisdiction.

“My Office will continue to use every tool and resource available to address domestic violence in our communities and hold violent actors accountable,” stated United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace. “Strong community partnerships are key to our ability to meaningfully engage in this endeavor, and we thank all of our partners for their untiring efforts.”

“ATF is committed to our continued partnerships in aggressively pursuing prohibited possession of firearms due to domestic violence convictions and certain protective orders. Community safety is our top priority and combatting prohibited firearms possession by domestic abusers is another way we prevent violent gun crime within our communities,” stated ATF New York Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller.

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 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 between the Department and local jurisdictions to ensure federal resources are being leveraged effectively.

In the EDNY, this initiative will support work with federal and state law enforcement partners like ATF, FBI, NYPD as well as bolster partnerships with local nonprofit organizations such as The Salvation Army and Restore NYC. It also includes collaboration with agencies like the New York State Office of Victim Services and the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic & Gender-Based Violence which operates NYC Family Justice Centers providing support for victims.

The Justice Department anticipates additional jurisdictions will be designated as USAOs continue coordination with their local stakeholders. All USAOs will continue combating intimate partner gun violence and prioritizing prosecutions of domestic violence offenders as part of their Project Safe Neighborhoods strategy supporting the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime.