I am pleased to also announce that US Attorneys’ office throughout the country have partnered with family Justice Centers to create projects through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), to meet the goal of reducing violent crime. The success of these programs is built on their local partnerships. The U.S. Attorney’s office works hand in hand with the local District Attorney’s office, local law enforcement, and with their local Family Justice Center.
I want to highlight one PSN in particular, led by US Attorney Bob Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma. His office is running an issue-specific Domestic Violence and Firearms PSN in close conjunction with Palomar, their local Family Justice Center. In the first year of this Domestic Violence and Firearms PSN they charged over 50 cases. These cases are now over 17% of the office’s overall caseload and the 50+ cases they have charged this past year are a 100% increase over the prior year. Women have broken down in tears when they were told that their abusers will go to jail and they do not have to testify against them, because they are not charging these as assault cases but as firearms cases. This has empowered victims and helped hold more offenders accountable, as having to testify against one’s abuser can inhibit victims from testifying and result in dropped charges.
Other US Attorneys are also focusing their PSNs on domestic violence and guns. The US Attorney for Northern Ohio, Justin Herdman has incorporated their PSN into a partnership with the Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Center and has focused on prosecuting cases where abusers possess firearms — many times allowing a victim who is terrified or reluctant not to have to testify but still holding the offender accountable. In speaking with US Attorney Herdman last week he raised a crucial point that abusers with guns also pose a significant risk to law enforcement responding to the crime scene.
In Dallas, US Attorney for Northern Texas, Erin Nealy Cox is also fighting domestic violence using federal firearms laws. Working in tandem with state and local law enforcement partners, US Attorney Nealy Cox pledged to prosecute domestic violence offenders discovered with guns. “With so many domestic disputes escalating from bruises to bullets and bloodshed, we can and should play a part in ending this senseless violence,” she said. “We’re hopeful that highlighting this focus will send a message to convicted abusers: Not only can the Justice Department prosecute you for firearm possession, but in the Northern District of Texas, we will.”
The Department’s work is paying dividends. For example, according to Department data, since 2016, the number of defendants charged under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(9) — the prohibition against firearm possession by a domestic violence misdemeanant — has grown by nearly 80 percent, from 110 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 to 197 in FY 2018. In the same period, convictions increased more than 160% from 55 in FY2016 to 148 in FY2018. (Itals SeniorWomen.com's)
The significant increase in charges and convictions under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(9) is a direct result of the Justice Department’s aggressive effort to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers. This effort from U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country has resulted in three Supreme Court decisions upholding both the statutory and constitutional viability of this statute. These critical decisions, combined with the re-invigoration of Project Safe Neighborhoods and the Department’s concerted efforts to prosecute violent crime, has resulted in this success. A central component of Project Safe Neighborhoods is that safe neighborhoods begin with safe homes.
If you are not already working with your local PSN site and your US Attorney, I urge you to reach out to them to explore ways you can partner to reduce violent crimes.
Over the course of this conference, I know you will be inspired by these and other examples of coordinated community responses that take the next steps to end violence against women. I know I am inspired seeing all of you here today, and I will bring your stories, your passion, and your innovation back with me to Washington. I will be filled with hope when I think of your work. Thank you and God bless you for everything you do.
Additional help hotline: National Domestic Violence Hotline | Get Help Today | 1-800-799-7233
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