Champions at Work: Extreme Risk Protection Orders in Action

Whether it is a horrific mass shooting that impacts scores of people or a suicide that devastates a family, these tragedies have rippling effects through communities and are preceded by warning signs, most often known to loved ones or the police. Extreme Risk laws provide law enforcement and family members with a tool to intervene proactively when someone is in crisis—before it turns into an incident of gun violence. Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) are court-issued civil orders that temporarily remove firearm access from those who are showing signs of harming themselves or others.

As of 2024, 21 states and Washington, DC, have adopted these lifesaving laws. ERPOs are an effective suicide prevention measure and have been used successfully to avert threats of mass violence. From the implementation of the first Extreme Risk law in 1999 through 2023, nearly 49,000 ERPO petitions have been filed. While ERPO usage has increased significantly, wide variations persist between and within states. For a policy that has grown in popularity over the past few years as a leading gun violence prevention tool, there is still a lot to learn about how these laws are being implemented and what’s happening on the ground.

To address this gap and to shine a bright light on the cities, counties, and states that have taken strong steps to use ERPOs, we interviewed experts—or, as we like to call them, ERPO champions—from across the country. These champions come from a variety of professional roles ranging from law enforcement to victim advocates, and were often the pioneers in their communities helping to set up protocols for ERPO implementation and refine the processes along the way. Each conversation provides insights into the process followed in their jurisdictions, the stakeholders involved, the types of use cases, the challenges faced, and the lessons learned that others can apply to their own communities. As more states consider this policy and ERPO states look to increase their usage, these case studies can serve as inspiration and a practical guide to improve ERPO implementation.

Conversations with ERPO Champions

Key Themes from the ERPO Implementation Case Studies

1. Build strong cross-sector partnerships and ensure collaboration.
   Successful ERPO implementation depends on strong collaboration between law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, behavioral health professionals, victim advocates, and community organizations.
   
   Read the Dechutes County, Oregon, case study to learn more about what this collaboration can look like.
   
2. Invest in training key stakeholders.
   One of the biggest barriers to ERPO use is simple: many people—including law enforcement, attorneys, and the general public—are unaware that this tool exists. Jurisdictions that have successfully increased ERPO use have prioritized training at multiple levels.
   
   The Fairfax County, Virginia, case study shares more about how in-depth, scenario-based instruction can help close this knowledge gap.
   
3. Create safe firearm removal processes.
   One of the most critical aspects of ERPO implementation is ensuring that firearms are removed safely, both for the individual at risk and for law enforcement officers executing the order.
   
   Employing a “humanity-first” approach, as ERPO Champions in King County, Washington, did, can earn community trust and significantly improve compliance and safety.
   
4. Balance crisis intervention with long-term support.
   ERPOs are designed as a temporary measure to remove firearms from individuals in crisis, but their effectiveness can be enhanced when paired with broader support systems.
   
   The case study from the Fort Lauderdale Police Department in Florida shows the benefits of this support in action.
   
5. Raise awareness and support for civilian petitioners.
   While law enforcement officers file the majority of ERPO petitions, most ERPO laws also allow family members and other close contacts to petition the court directly. However, many civilians remain unaware of this option, and those who do know may feel overwhelmed by the legal process.
   
   Proactive steps like those taken by Washington, D.C., ERPO Champions to make ERPOs more accessible can play a crucial role in increasing awareness and usage of ERPOs among families who might otherwise hesitate to take action.
   
6. Ensure fairness and consistency: Due process and judicial engagement.
   ERPOs are civil orders, not criminal prosecutions, but they still require a high standard of due process.
   
   The Vermont case study provides an example of how internal coordination can ensure that ERPO petitions are used judiciously and consistently across counties.