To address the ongoing issue of domestic and gun violence, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has announced that 78 U.S. communities will receive targeted support under the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022. The Department of Justice, working with local partners, will focus on developing strategies to reduce intimate partner firearm violence.

The initiative will unite resources from the Department of Justice, including the USAOs and ATF, to target individuals banned from owning firearms due to domestic violence offenses. The selected communities were chosen based on data and their commitment to using federal tools to prosecute under 18 U.S.C. 922(g). Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, stated, "We work in close collaboration with our law enforcement partners and community stakeholders to prevent violence, particularly gun violence and domestic violence." 

Designating Augusta as a community partner in Southern Georgia's District marks a key step in addressing intimate partner violence. This partnership combines local insights with federal prosecutorial resources to strengthen efforts against domestic violence.

The Department of Justice plans to expand the initiative by including more jurisdictions as federal agencies and community groups work together. This approach seeks both immediate relief and long-term violence reduction, aligning with the broader Project Safe Neighborhoods strategy and the Department's Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime. More details are available on the Justice Department's website.