U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE TO WORK WITH LOCAL PARTNERS TO REDUCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Press Release

U.S. Justice Department Designates the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in the District of South Dakota Under Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act, Prioritizing Firearms Prosecutions of Domestic Violence Offenders

SIOUX FALLS - Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has approved an initial set of 78 communities across 47 states 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 the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) - will partner with each designated jurisdiction to develop a plan to reduce intimate partner firearm violence and to prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders prohibited under 18 U.S. Code Section 922(g) from owning firearms.

United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell applauded Attorney General Garland as well as the Oglala Sioux Tribe for agreeing to participate in this program. "Intimate partner violence involving guns presents a grave danger to victims trapped in violent relationships. Once domestic violence abusers take to firearms, the threat to their victims increases exponentially. Through this program, we will add new focus and commitment to our federal, tribal, and state investigative and prosecutive response. History has shown that, particularly with this type of crime, law enforcement collaboration and strong community partnerships provide the best means of stemming this violence and punishing those who perpetrate it."

"We are proud to stand alongside our colleagues at the U.S. Attorney's Office on this focused initiative," said Special Agent in Charge Travis S. Riddle, of the St. Paul Field Division. "A firearm in the hands of domestic abuser is a very real threat to those trapped in these unfortunate situations. We highly encourage those who may find themselves, or may know of a person, affected by domestic violence where a firearm is involved to reach out to authorities. No one should have to live their life in constant fear, and we're here to work alongside our law enforcement partners to investigate these cases."

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.

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.

Updated September 13, 2024