U.S. Attorney's Office to Work with Local Partners to Reduce Domestic Violence

Press Release

U.S. Justice Department Designates the Borough of Brooklyn Under Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act, Prioritizing Firearms Prosecutions of Domestic Violence Offenders Occurring There

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 to 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, the borough of Brooklyn has been designated as one of the jurisdictions.

"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 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 gun violence.

In the EDNY, this initiative will not only support the Office's close work with its federal and state law enforcement partners, especially ATF, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Police Department, but it will also bolster its partnerships with local nonprofit organizations, such as The Salvation Army and Restore NYC, as well as the New York State Office of Victim Services and the Mayor's Office to End Domestic & Gender-Based Violence, which operates the New York City Family Justice Centers, to provide needed support to victims of domestic 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 gun 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.

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Updated September 25, 2024