Use of Oregon's Extreme Risk Protection Order law to prevent mass violence: A descriptive study.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Criminology
• Law and Society

Background:

• Firearm violence is a significant public health concern in the U.S.
• Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) laws are implemented in various states to mitigate firearm violence, including mass violence events.
• Oregon's ERPO law enables family, household members, or law enforcement to petition courts for temporary firearm restrictions for individuals posing an imminent risk of harm.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the characteristics of ERPO petitions filed in Oregon that specifically involved threats of mass violence.
• To compare ERPO petitions related to mass violence threats with those that did not cite such threats.

Main Methods:

• ERPO court records from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2023, were collected from the Oregon Judicial Case Information Network.
• Data underwent abstraction and double coding to ensure interrater reliability.
• Descriptive analyses and comparative statistical tests (Fisher's exact, Wilcoxon rank sum) were used to examine petition characteristics.

Main Results:

• Between 2018 and 2023, 835 ERPO petitions were filed; 11.0% (92) cited mass violence risks.
• Petitions mentioning mass violence threats had a higher grant rate (90.2%) compared to others (76.3%; p=0.002).
• Law enforcement filed a greater proportion of mass violence threat petitions (88.0%) versus non-mass violence petitions (57.9%; p<0.001).

Conclusions:

• Oregon's ERPO law effectively addresses firearm injury risks, including those related to mass violence and threats to educational institutions.
• ERPO petitions involving mass violence threats exhibit distinct characteristics, including a higher probability of judicial approval.
• Further research is recommended to identify facilitators and barriers to the optimal implementation of ERPO laws for mass violence prevention.