Sometimes, a resident of Florida might need a special protection order. An extreme risk protection order is one of those options. It’s important to understand what they are and what purpose they serve.
What is an extreme risk protection order?
An extreme risk protection order or ERPO is a type of protection order issued when there’s a high risk potential of people being injured or killed with firearms. A judge issues an extreme risk protection order against a person and could possibly renew it annually if the threat still exists.
What tragedies can an extreme risk protection order prevent?
Extreme risk protection orders are issued to prevent potential tragic events. If a person is believed to be suicidal and has access to firearms, an ERPO can be ordered to address the problem. If a person suffers from a mental health issue like depression or a mental illness and is known to have suicidal thoughts or prior suicidal actions, the ERPO can save their life. They might also be ordered to enter a facility to receive the help they need.
An ERPO can prevent murders and mass shootings from occurring. If a family member is concerned about someone who has exhibited high-risk behaviors that indicate a potential for committing shooting crimes or murder against another person or people, they can ask for help and get the order from the court.
Not all protective orders issued to people who have suffered domestic violence are adequate enough to prevent an escalation of that violence. Many lack the prohibition of the attacker to have access to firearms, which puts the victim in potentially grave danger. As a result, an ERPO can be life-saving to a victim of domestic violence in preventing intimate partner shootings.
If you are in need of an extreme protection order, you should immediately appeal to the court.