Justice Department Designates Madison County for Federal Support to Reduce Domestic Violence

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland approved 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, and U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe announced Madison County as a designee.

With this designation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Illinois and the Kansas City Field Division for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives partnered with the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office to develop a plan to reduce firearm violence and prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders prohibited under 18 U.S. Code Section 922(g) from owning firearms. 

“To address domestic violence in our communities, it’s important to strengthen the relationships between prosecutors and law enforcement in order to hold abusers accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “As October is recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we reaffirm our commitment to reduce intimate partner violence by working directly with our community and law enforcement partners.”

“This partnership strengthens the commitment of the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office to reduce violent crime in our homes, which should be places of peace and joy, not fear and harm. Effective prosecution of abusers can mean the difference between life and death for victims, as well as for the law enforcement officers who respond to incidents of violence,” said Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine. “With this partnership, we will continue to deploy prosecution resources to ensure that victims of domestic violence are protected and their abusers brought to justice.”

To select designees, the Justice Department used data to identify communities that could benefit from an increased focus on intimate partner violence. The partnership will connect stakeholders with resources and increase the use of federal tools to prosecute offenders under 18 U.S.C. 922(g). partnership and coordination between the department and the local jurisdiction to ensure federal resources are being leveraged effectively to address intimate partner firearm violence.

“In April, ATF hosted the first Inaugural Gun Violence Survivors’ Summit to honor those who have fallen to domestic violence and today’s announcement is an example of how ATF will continue to work tirelessly to protect our communities every day,” stated Bernard G. Hansen, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Kansas City Field Division.  “ATF’s mission is as critical as it has ever been, we will not stop working to prevent gun violence and will do everything we can to stop the cycle of domestic abuse.”

The Justice Department anticipates additional jurisdictions to be designated. 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.