GRAND FORKS, ND ( KXNET ) — Attorney General Merrick B. Garland approved Grand Forks as one of 78 communities to be prioritized in an effort to address intimate partner gun violence.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) will partner with Grand Forks and other jurisdictions, through the U.S. Attorney’s offices (USAOs) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), to come up with a plan to reduce intimate partner firearm violence and to prioritize the prosecution of domestic violence offenders prohibited from owning firearms.

“Our law enforcement partners in Grand Forks have made reducing domestic violence a priority for decades,” says United States Attorney for the District of North Dakota Mac Schneider. “This designation by the Department of Justice is a recognition of that strong record and seeks to build on it. By targeting domestic violence offenders who illegally possess firearms for prosecution in federal court, we can save lives and protect families. I am grateful for the partnership of the Grand Forks State’s Attorney’s Office, the Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office, and the Grand Forks Police Department and look forward to continuing our work with them on this important effort.”

Weapons were used in more than 10% of domestic violence cases reported to North Dakota domestic violence advocacy centers in 2023, according to data compiled by CAWS North Dakota . 83% of the victims in these cases were women.

The DOJ used data like that to identify which communities could benefit most from an increased focus on intimate partner violence. This designation of local jurisdictions, including Grand Forks, will allow them to better coordinate with the DOJ so they can make sure federal resources are being used effectively to address the issue at hand.

This partnership is part of the federal Violence Against Women Act, which recently celebrated its 30-year anniversary since being passed.

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