Assessing the Use of ERPOs in Cases of Intimate Partner Violence in California

Overview

This study will assess recent trends in use of extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs) and domestic violence restraining orders (DVROs) in California and assess how intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors and service providers perceive their effectiveness in prohibiting firearm access by IPV perpetrators.

Status

Awarded

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to lessen gaps in our understanding of the application of ERPOs and DVPOs in diverse communities, and to generate information that can be used to inform policies and practices to reduce firearm violence, particularly in the context of IPV, in California and beyond.

Approach

The research will utilize a mixed-methods approach, combining descriptive analyses of data from the California Restraining and Protective Order System (CARPOS) with qualitative insights gathered through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with domestic violence service providers, victim-survivors, and other stakeholders. Additionally, the study will integrate new survey measures into the California Study on Violence Experiences Across the Lifespan (Cal-VEX) to explore trends, motivations, challenges, and perceptions regarding the use and effectiveness of ERPOs and DVROs in preventing access to firearms by perpetrators of intimate partner violence.

Significance

The research is significant because it addresses the critical issue of firearm-involved intimate partner violence, evaluating the impact of legal interventions like ERPOs and DVROs on preventing access to firearms by abusers. Its findings could inform policies and practices to enhance victim safety and reduce intimate partner homicides.

Investigator Bio

Jennifer A. Wagman, PhD, MHS, is an associate professor at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health in the Department of Community Health Sciences, and associate director of the UC Global Health Institute’s Center for Gender and Health Justice. As a global public health researcher, she focuses on the prevention of intimate partner violence. Since 2020, Dr. Wagman has led research on the prevention of intimate partner homicide in Los Angeles County.