SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – 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. San Juan, in the District of Puerto Rico, has been designated as a participant in this initiative.
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 designated jurisdictions to develop plans to reduce intimate partner firearm violence and to prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders who are prohibited from owning firearms under Title 18 United States Code § 922(g).
Communities were selected for participation in this initiative in collaboration with community stakeholders, seeking diverse representation from rural areas, suburban areas, urban areas, and Tribal communities. The Justice Department used data to identify communities that could benefit from additional resources to address intimate partner violence, and the local jurisdictions committed to partnering with the Department to prosecute offenders under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g). The designation represents a coordinated effort between the Department and the local jurisdictions to ensure federal resources are being leveraged effectively to address intimate partner firearm violence.
“The United States. Attorney’s Office will continue allocating resources to effectively respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “We appreciate the support of our partners at ATF and other state, local and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as health care providers and other professionals in addressing domestic and related violence.”
“ATF stays in unison with our state and local partners in combatting intimate partner violence against members of our community,” said Christopher A. Robinson, Special Agent in Charge ATF Miami Field Division.
In addition, the Department of Justice has recently awarded, among others, the following grants to support community efforts to expand domestic violence prevention and intervention in Puerto Rico:
- The Women’s Advocate Office received $1,882,464 from the Office of Violence Against Women for the OVW Fiscal Year 2024 STOP Formula Grant Program
- The Puerto Rico Department of Justice received $7,293,295 from the Office of Justice Programs, Office of Victims of Crime entitled OVC FY24 VOCA Victim Assistance Formula Grant
- The Puerto Rico Department of Justice received $500,000 from the Office of Violence Against Women for the OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Enhancing Investigation and Prosecution of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking (EIP) Initiative
- Solo Por Hoy received $500,000 from the office of Violence Against Women for the OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Grants to Prevent and Respond to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking, and Sex Trafficking Against Children and Youth Program
- The Women’s Advocate Office received $854,654 from the Office of Violence Against Women for the OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Sexual Assault Services Formula Program
- Proyecto Matria, Inc. received $400,000 from the Office of Violence Against Women for the OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program Expanding Legal Services Initiative
- Coordinadora Paz para la Mujer received $367,379 from the Office of Violence Against Women for the OVW Fiscal Year 2024 State and Territory Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
- Boys & Girls Club of PR Inc. received $350,000 from the Office of Violence Against Women for the OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Grants to Engage Men and Boys as Allies in the Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls Program.
The Justice Department anticipates additional jurisdictions to be designated under Section 1103 of VAWA as USAOs continue to coordinate resources 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.
Complete List of Jurisdictions Designated under Section 1103 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, Louisiana
Western Maine Region: Franklin, Oxford, and Androscoggin Counties, Maine
Baltimore City, Maryland
Boston, Massachusetts
Saginaw, Michigan
Lansing, Michigan
Greenville, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Cape Girardeau County, Missouri
Greene County, Missouri
Gallatin County and Bozeman, Montana
Northeast Omaha, Nebraska
Las Vegas, Nevada
Strafford County, New Hampshire
Bernalillo County, New Mexico
Borough of Brooklyn, New York
Onondaga County, New York
Borough and County of the Bronx, New York
Monroe County, New York
Fayetteville and Cumberland County, North Carolina
Forsyth County, North Carolina
Asheville (including Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians), North Carolina
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Toledo, Ohio
Muskogee County, Oklahoma
Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma
Portland, Oregon
Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Greenville County, South Carolina
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota
City of Chattanooga, Tennessee
Memphis/Shelby County, Tennessee
Gregg County, Texas
Amarillo, Texas
Houston, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
Salt Lake County, Utah
South Hampton Roads (Chesapeake/Norfolk/Portsmouth/Virginia Beach), Virginia
Oswald Harris Court Housing Community, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Chittenden County, Vermont
Spokane County, Washington
King County, Washington
Wheeling Area (Ohio/Brooke/Hancock Counties), West Virginia
Kanawha County, West Virginia
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dane County, Wisconsin
Fremont County, Wyoming
