Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has approved 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 from owning firearms under 18 U.S. Code Section 922(g). In the Eastern District of Texas, Gregg County has received designation.
“Domestic violence is a significant problem in our nation and presents a special challenge to prosecutors,” said Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. “The causes of domestic violence are numerous and varied and require a concerted national and local effort if there is going to be success at tackling this problem. Addressing domestic and sexual violence must be a linchpin in the attack on violent crime. As such, we are proud to announce that in Gregg County we will prioritize firearms prosecutions of domestic violence offenders to aid our state and local partners, who do the heavy lifting in this important fight.”
“One of ATF-Dallas Field Division’s top priorities has been, and will continue to be, to reduce domestic violence, especially those incidents in which firearms are used,” said ATF Dallas Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II. “All people, no matter their gender, race, creed, or color, deserve to have relationships free from domestic violence – a heinous crime that terrorizes families, shatters homes, and destroys lives. Let it serve as a notice – through our partnerships with the Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney’s Office, and state and local law enforcement agencies, ATF will remain steadfast in its pursuit of domestic abusers in possession of firearms illegally.”
Communities were designated in close coordination with community stakeholders, including rural, suburban, urban, and Tribal areas. 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 effectively leveraged to address intimate partner firearm violence.
The Justice Department anticipates additional jurisdictions to be designated as USAOs continue coordination with their local stakeholders. All USAOs, with or without 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.
