PROVIDENCE – The U.S. Department of Justice has selected three Rhode Island communities – Pawtucket, Central Falls, and Woonsocket – to join with their federal partners in an initiative aimed at reducing intimate partner firearm violence.
Federal prosecutors and agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will work with the police departments to develop a strategy to reduce domestic-violence firearms cases and prioritize prosecutions of known offenders for possible prosecution.
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“Domestic violence takes a devastating toll on families and communities across Rhode Island,” U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha said in a news release. “And when combined with illegal firearms, the consequences can be deadly. This Office is proud to partner with the cities of Pawtucket, Central Falls, and Woonsocket to bring targeted federal prosecutions that keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers and help keep our communities, our friends, and our neighbors safe.”