TRENTON, N.J. — Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Office of Alternative and Community Responses announced the launch of a multi-year public awareness campaign aimed at increasing awareness of New Jersey’s Extreme Risk Protective Order law, which allows for the temporary removal of firearms from individuals considered a danger to themselves or others.
New Jersey’s Extreme Risk Protective Order Act of 2018 allows courts to temporarily suspend firearm access for at-risk individuals through court-issued orders commonly referred to as “red flag laws.”
An ERPO temporarily prohibits a person from possessing or purchasing firearms or ammunition. Individuals subject to an ERPO also may not possess a firearms purchaser identification card, a permit to purchase a handgun or a permit to carry a handgun.
“ERPOs are a proven tool for preventing tragedies. We’re committed to using all tools at our disposal to end gun violence in New Jersey,” said Attorney General Davenport. “Anyone can take this simple, proactive step to stop gun-related deaths. With the campaign we’re announcing today, we hope to make ERPOs as recognizable as domestic violence restraining orders. We want everyone to be able to recognize when an ERPO might be needed and then feel empowered to request one.”
“Obtaining an ERPO can mean the difference between life and death, but that can only happen when people know they exist and understand how to use them,” said Tiffany Wilson, director of the Office of Alternative and Community Responses. “With this campaign, we will increase awareness and correct any misunderstandings about New Jersey’s ERPO law.”
Officials said the campaign will focus on educating the public about ERPOs, identifying available resources and addressing misconceptions about the law. The first phase of the campaign will include digital and social media outreach in English and Spanish ahead of National Gun Violence Awareness Month in June.
A second phase will expand outreach through billboards, bus shelters, radio advertisements and video messaging, while adding content in seven additional languages.
The campaign also includes a dedicated ERPO website designed to provide New Jersey-specific information about the law, answer frequently asked questions and address common myths about ERPOs. Officials said the website will also include a survey intended to measure public awareness.
Under the law, judges may issue ERPOs after reviewing petitions filed by relatives, household members or law enforcement officers. Courts consider several factors, including criminal charges or convictions involving violence, stalking or domestic violence, as well as histories of threats, violence or violations of protective orders.
Officials said the campaign is funded through a competitive grant award from the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program administered by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance.
According to the attorney general’s office, the grant will support statewide ERPO-related initiatives involving county prosecutors, the Administrative Office of the Courts, community organizations and other stakeholders. Through the program, the Office of Alternative and Community Responses is making more than $2.1 million in funding available to county prosecutor’s offices, with additional funding planned for courts and nonprofit organizations.
