Barriers and Facilitators to Implementation of Oregon's Extreme Risk Protection Order Law: A Qualitative Study of...

Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) laws are a promising strategy for preventing firearm violence through risk-based firearm restrictions, but effectiveness hinges on implementation. Oregon's ERPO law went into effect in 2018, but utilization has varied across the state. We interviewed professionals involved in ERPO implementation to understand barriers and facilitators to the use of ERPOs for violence prevention in Oregon. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 35 professionals involved in ERPO implementation in Oregon, including law enforcement officers (LEOs), judges, representatives from district and city attorneys' offices, and those working in suicide, substance use, and domestic violence prevention. Rapid qualitative analysis was used to analyze interview data. Implementation challenges identified by professionals included insufficient funding and resources, time constraints on petitioning, safety and timeliness of ERPO service, and limited enforcement mechanisms. While professionals shared the strategies they use to overcome these barriers, such as conducting risk assessments and using a non-confrontational approach to increase safety of ERPO service, they also identified potential policy and practice changes that may bolster implementation. Such changes included cautiously expanding petitioner eligibility, allowing LEOs to petition at any time of the day or week, and requiring ERPO respondents to file a declaration of firearm surrender form with the court and attend compliance hearings. This work helps to increase knowledge about the implementation and use of Oregon's ERPO law and identify potential gaps in current practices. This work may inform policy and practice changes needed to improve implementation of risk-based laws like ERPOs.