Tucson Standard

The city of Tucson's Domestic Violence Court has received a Firearms Technical Assistance Project Pilot Sites Initiative Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Violence Against Women.

According to a story by KGUN, the grant will help fund projects that support "domestic violence partners and the challenges they face," officials say.

“It is an honor for Tucson’s City Domestic Violence Court to receive this grant to conduct the Firearms Project," Judge Wendy Million, the Magistrate who presides over Tucson’s City Domestic Violence Court, said in the story. "It really speaks to our continuing ability to work with police, the prosecution and defense, and victim advocacy groups to produce the best justice system outcome for both domestic violence victims, and the offenders who cause harm."

According to the city's community relations department, these money will support initiatives that assist victims of domestic violence. The Domestic Violence Court is in partnership with the TPD, Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse, Tucson City Prosecutors Office and Pima County Adult Probation Office.

The goal of the grant is to aid victims of abuse and to prevent abusers from having access to firearms, as research shows that an abuser is more likely to inflict deadly domestic violence if they have access to guns, the story stated.

"Improving the enforcement of court-ordered gun surrenders is a big step towards community safety," Million said.

Tucson Police Department Chief Chad Kasmar expressed his support for the program.

"Congratulations to City of Tucson Judge Million and the larger Domestic Violence Court team in this very important grant award,” Kasmar said in a statement. "This award reflects full criminal justice system stakeholder and community engagement, all working together with the collective goal to address gun crime and domestic violence. This grant with give us additional tools to increase offender accountability, while also improving the lives of domestic violence victims."