BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The month of October is nationally recognized as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month.” Across North Alabama, numerous victim service providers and community-based agencies daily serve as advocates, protectors, and healers for victims of domestic violence. Their ongoing commitment to serve victims of domestic violence is shared by federal and local law enforcement agencies in North Alabama, which prioritize addressing domestic violence year-round.
In October 2020, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama launched Operation Safe Families to bring federal law enforcement alongside local victim service providers, local law enforcement, and local prosecutors to better respond to the needs of victims of domestic violence and the threats presented to the community by domestic violence offenders. Not only do domestic violence offenders often terrorize former intimate partners, national and local crime data confirms that domestic violence offenders present extreme risks to law enforcement officers and are often responsible for significant amounts of violent crimes in Alabama communities.
In Jefferson County, offenders with a domestic violence history are responsible for the vast majority of homicides committed each year, while nationally domestic violence offenders present the greatest lethal threat to law enforcement officer safety. The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office has identified that more than 70% of homicide offenders in Jefferson County for 2021 and 2022 had previously committed acts of domestic violence. While also, according to the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial Fund’s 2022 mid-year report for law enforcement officer deaths, more law enforcement officers have been killed by firearms responding to domestic disturbance issues than in any other line of duty capacity in the United States.
“People who commit violence within their homes are often also the same people who commit violent crimes across our community,” said United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona. “Domestic Violence Awareness Month is an opportunity for our community to recognize the victim service providers and law enforcement agencies that serve and protect victims of domestic violence each day. It also serves as an opportunity to refocus local efforts on how to better to protect victims of violence and how best to prevent the continual escalation of harm that often accompanies domestic violence.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) leverage federal law enforcement resources to prioritize the prosecution of people that unlawfully possess firearms following prohibited crimes of domestic violence. Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, ATF, and the Alabama Office of Prosecution Services provide training and guidance to local law enforcement, prosecutors, and community-based service providers on how best to remove guns from the hands of domestic abusers. During 2022, Operation Safe Families law enforcement partners conducted more than 30 trainings to more than 1,000 law enforcement and community partners across Northern District of Alabama counties.
“Domestic violence is a complex crime that affects everyone involved and eventually affects the community,” ATF Special Agent in Charge Mickey French said. “It is the ATF’s duty to enforce the law and charge the individuals who unlawfully possess firearms and inflict undue harm on others. The ATF along with our state, local, and federal partners will continue to serve the public by utilizing our combined resources to bring justice to those who willingly and unlawfully harm the citizens in our communities.”
Over the last year, the Department of Justice has committed nearly $1 million of funding for new projects to address domestic violence within the Northern District of Alabama. The Office of Violence Against Women has awarded $500,000 to One Place Metro Family Justice Center to facilitate and implement the Domestic Violence and Firearms Technical Assistance Project (FTAP) in Jefferson County, and the Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office in Birmingham approximately $340,000 to enhance the response of local law enforcement and prosecutors in Jefferson County. Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has dedicated Project Safe Neighborhoods grant resources to enhance protections for domestic violence victims within the district.
New efforts are also being implemented locally to address the trauma children suffer after witnessing or experiencing family violence. One Place Metro Alabama Family Justice Center has partnered with Camp Hope America to serve trauma-impacted youth in Jefferson County. The U.S. Attorney’s Office participates in and supports Camp Hope and its year-round Pathways program, which seeks to break the generational cycle of family violence by offering healing and hope to children who have witnessed and been impacted by family violence. For more information on Camp Hope America, please contact Kelly Klehm at kklehm@oneplacebirmingham.com.
In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will join partners from law enforcement and community agencies in a variety of domestic violence education and service events across North Alabama. Included in these events, on October 11th the Jefferson County Firearms Technical Assistance Project had its first meeting with law enforcement and community partners, as well as representatives from the Office of Violence Against Women and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. Also, on October 13th the Birmingham Bar Association hosted a CLE and tour of One Place Metro Alabama Family Justice Center.
If you would like more information on Operation Safe Families, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndal/operation-safe-families-protecting-families-gun-violence or to receive training or resources related to domestic violence, please contact the U.S Attorney’s Office at 205.244.2015.