The city of Los Angeles has received a $1 million grant to strengthen protections for domestic violence survivors and enforce laws requiring abusers to surrender firearms, it was announced Thursday.
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The funding, awarded through the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program, will support citywide efforts to close enforcement gaps surrounding Domestic Violence Restraining Orders (DVROs) and firearm relinquishment.
Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky has led efforts to ensure the city maintains and increases funding for programs for domestic violence survivors.
"Firearms are the most lethal factor in domestic violence situations and increase the risk of homicide by 500%," Yaroslavsky said in a statement. "We have laws to take guns away from abusers, but too often those laws go unenforced, putting survivors at risk."
She said the new funding will improve enforcement and expand services to "save lives and build a safer Los Angeles for everyone."
The grant will fund the hiring of an administrative coordinator within the City Attorney's Office to oversee compliance across the Los Angeles Family Court, Los Angeles Police Department and domestic violence service providers. It will also support the development of tracking and notification systems that alert law enforcement when a restrained individual fails to surrender firearms.
Other planned uses for the funds include launching a public awareness campaign about domestic violence restraining orders, firearm laws and available services, as well as training shelter staff and legal advocates to better prepare firearm-related DVRO petitions.
City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto said the grant will elevate the city's efforts to protect survivors. Her office is part of the DVRO Enforcement Task Force, which includes the Los Angeles Police Department, the Mayor's Office of Public Safety, Councilwoman Yaroslavsky's office and the Community Investment for Families Department.
The task force is modeled after similar teams in San Diego and King County, Washington.
"My number one job as mayor is to keep Angelenos safe," Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement. "We have taken a comprehensive approach to public safety that includes strengthening our enforcement of domestic violence restraining orders for survivors by adding additional tools that can help curb domestic and partner violence."
"I want to recognize Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky and the entire coalition of partners for taking tangible action to keep domestic violence survivors safe and to uphold existing protections," Bass added.
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