Domestic and Sexual Violence in Virginia - Virginia Attorney General

is recommended that efforts be made to expand shelterspace and low-income housing opportunities for victimsof domestic violence and their children.Recommendation 6.Education on Firearms Laws:Local law enforcement should be encouraged to worktogether with state and federal authorities to ensure thatpersons subject to protective orders are educated aboutfederal and state firearms laws.violence. Training not only enhances professional skills,it also provides professionals with the forum to buildrelationships essential to building a coordinated responseto domestic and sexual violence. Accordingly, it is recommendedthat the development of domestic and sexualviolence training programs and the attendance of theseprograms at the state and local levels be encouraged forall allied professionals.Where volatile domestic violence situations exist, thepresence of firearms can pose a serious safety risk forvictims and children. Persons subject to protective ordersare subject to federal and state firearms restrictions, aswell as criminal penalties for firearms violations. 82 Underfederal law, persons convicted of misdemeanor crimes ofdomestic violence are also subject to firearms prohibitions.83 Although brochures and resources exist to informabout firearms restrictions, due to the potential risk tovictims, it is necessary to ensure the information is widelydisseminated not only to protect victims, but to preventcriminal violations.In an effort to promote awareness for domestic violenceoffenders and persons subject to protective orders, it isrecommended that additional efforts be undertakento increase education for persons subject to protectiveorders about the implications of federal and state firearmsrestrictions.Recommendation 7.Training Efforts:A critical piece to addressing domestic and sexual violenceis education. The Commonwealth should encouragetraining for allied professionals on domestic and sexualviolence issues, including but not limited to, the dynamicsof domestic and sexual violence; the enforcement ofprotective orders; the exposure of children to domesticviolence; and the creation of collaborative communityefforts such as coordinated community response teams,task forces, and sexual assault response teams (SARTs).In-depth training on domestic and sexual violence issuesshould be encouraged for all professionals with a stakein preventing and responding to domestic and sexual33