Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPOs) laws authorize law enforcement with a civil restraining order to temporarily remove and prohibit access to firearms for individuals who pose a significant risk of harming themselves or others. As ERPOs have been implemented in 22 states, Washington, DC, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, they increasingly operate at the intersection of public health and the criminal legal system. This webinar brings together national experts in law, public health, policy, and law enforcement to examine the current state of ERPOs. Panelists will explore the evidence on ERPO effectiveness, the realities of implementation, the role of law enforcement discretion, and the tension between improving enforcement of gun laws and reducing unnecessary criminalization. They will also discuss how ERPOS can be used to promote deflection and diversion from the criminal legal system as well as how states and municipalities can ensure procedural fairness and address racial disparities in their use.
