In a move to crack down on domestic firearm violence, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia has teamed up with federal and local entities to put a stop to this pervasive issue. U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan highlighted the importance of these partnerships, stating, "Our close partnerships with law enforcement agencies, local stakeholders, organizations, and others, is critical to combat the scourge of domestic violence to safeguard families and make our communities safer," according to a press release from the Department of Justice.
The collaborations, which will see the U.S. Attorney’s Office working closely with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Field Division and DeKalb County officials, are designed to prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders. Specifically, they target those who have infringed the law by possessing a firearm following a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, legislation borne out of the Violence Against Women Act passed in 1994. Despite, the Act's age, forms of domestic violence persist, and thus these initiatives remain crucial.
A key part of the strategy, as detailed by the Department of Justice, is the domestic violence firearm case referral program—first implemented with the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office. This program was a product of innovative methods developed by the District Attorney’s Office to identify relevant cases, involving a wide cast of the county's criminal justice community, including felony and misdemeanor prosecutors, probation officers, and victim advocates.
In September 2019, the initiative gained attention at the Georgia Commission on Family Violence’s Annual Conference, highlighting the success of the referral protocol. With a reflective look at past successes, the U.S. Attorney's office expects the continued identification and prosecution of severe domestic violence offenders, especially those who possess firearms, to make significant impacts on reducing the risk of serious injury or death to victims. This enforcement initiative speaks to a larger truth, that the shadows domestic violence casts are long and dark, but not beyond the reach of justice.
For more information, interested parties can contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office via email at [email protected] or call (404) 581-6016. More details can also be found by visiting the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia website.
