The Justice Department has launched the National Extreme Risk Protection Order Resource Center (ERPO RC), which will provide training and technical assistance to law enforcement officials, prosecutors, attorneys, judges, clinicians, victim service and social service providers, community organizations, and behavioral health professionals responsible for implementing laws designed to keep guns out of the hands of people who pose a threat to themselves or others.
In 2023, more than $238 million was awarded to states, territories, and the District of Columbia under the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP), which is designed to help jurisdictions implement crisis intervention strategies, including ERPO programs. In addition, another $4 million was awarded to support training and technical assistance under Byrne SCIP, including $2 million that was awarded to the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions to establish the ERPO RC.
In collaboration with the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the ERPO RC will support efforts to implement ERPO programs to fit local needs, share resources and promising practices with the field, and help ensure that funding received through Byrne SCIP is effectively utilized.
The newly launched website will provide direct access to critical information to help reduce firearm homicides and suicides. The website will be updated to include newly developed resources for the field created through the ERPO RC, in partnership with BJA. The website also provides a platform for the ERPO RC to highlight emerging and promising practices in successful ERPO implementation and connect states and localities to innovative strategies to reduce gun violence and save lives.