Empowering Enforcement: Law Enforcement Training for Gun Violence Prevention
At 97Percent, we believe that more consistent and effective enforcement of existing gun safety laws is a critical component in reducing gun deaths.
Our research, including our 2024 study, “Empowering Enforcement: Maximizing Red Flag Laws for Gun Violence Prevention,” validates that Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs), commonly known as red flag laws, are a vital tool to save lives, especially when implemented well and enforced uniformly. They show great promise in reducing suicides by firearm, domestic violence incidents, and potential mass shootings.
That’s why we developed a specialized law enforcement training program to support ERPO implementation and Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM). Our courses are designed to maximize the effectiveness of these tools while respecting the Constitutional rights of all citizens.
ERPO & BTAM Training for Law Enforcement and Public Safety
Our core 3-Day course is designed for public safety professionals and investigators who utilize ERPOs to mitigate and manage potential threats of gun violence in their communities. This program focuses on integrating Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) fundamentals to assess and mitigate threats, using ERPO as part of a larger, comprehensive mitigation and case management strategy.
Course Objectives
Develop a strong understanding of the robust due process protections built into ERPO statutes, supported by case law.
Explore how ERPOs mitigate potential violence in various situations (using real case studies and scenarios).
Build efficacy in using alternative strategies when ERPO may not be the appropriate tool.
Develop a plan for community and interdisciplinary cooperation and support in managing ERPO and BTAM cases.
Build proficiency in the ERPO process from Investigation to Petition, Court Testimony, Service, Firearm Recovery, and Case Management.
Meet Your Instructor
Christopher Carita, Senior Training Specialist at 97Percent, delivers our training programs.
With a 20-year law enforcement career, Christopher brings six years of experience in Threat Response and Extreme Risk Protection Order Implementation and 10 years in Criminal Investigations. He earned his Master of Public Health with a focus on violence prevention as a BAHI Fellow at Johns Hopkins University and currently advises at the National ERPO Center on implementation. Christopher is also a DHS Master Trainer for Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management.
Individual Training Opportunities
We offer specialized courses to help your agency build the knowledge and capacity needed for effective gun violence prevention.
97P Extreme Risk Protection Order Essentials for Gun Violence Prevention (FREE 1-Hour Course)
Designed for: Law enforcement investigators and leadership, city/county attorneys, and clinicians/educators who are petitioners or
mandatory reporters.
This FREE course covers the essentials for effective use of ERPOs (also referred to as RPO, GVRO, FRO, and Risk Warrant) in the 21 states and D.C. where they have been adopted.
Course will cover:
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How adherence to the statute ensures due process is respected.
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The statutory elements that indicate an ERPO may be needed.
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A straightforward walk-through of the ERPO process from incident to petition, to service and firearm dispossession, and finally expiration and firearm return.
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Four short scenarios where ERPO fills the gap in gun violence prevention: Suicidal Threats, Domestic Violence, School Shooting Threats, and Community Gun Violence.
97P Extreme Risk Protection Orders – Essentials for Law
Enforcement (Full-Day Course)
Law Enforcement Officers file over 90% of ERPOs in the U.S. This course provides the tools for LE to shift their investigative focus from enforcement
to prevention while adhering to due process protections. Participants
receive supportive ERPO guidelines, investigative checklists, and go-by’s.
Course will cover:
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Key ERPO terminology, statutory elements, and legal timelines.
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Identifying the behaviors and elements that indicate an ERPO may be needed.
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Conducting a thorough initial investigation and collection of evidence.
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Identifying criminal concerns, Miranda considerations, and when search warrants are needed.
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Critical information to include in the ERPO petition.
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Safety considerations for ERPO service and firearm removal.
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Planning for follow-up and ERPO renewal consideration.
97P Extreme Risk Protection Orders – Petition Writing Workshop
(1-Day Course)
Designed for: Law enforcement, city/county attorneys, clinicians, and educators who are potential ERPO petitioners.
This is a focused workshop on clearly articulating the threat of violence in ERPO petitions using plain language and a clear, chronological narrative. This is critical for ensuring judges and magistrates are fully informed.
Participants will:
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Learn the legal standards that must be in an ERPO petition (violent behavior/threats, history of violence, access to violence, imminence of threat).
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Connect observable, concerning behavior to clear statutory language.
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Articulate the elements that meet the legal standards for obtaining an ERPO.
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Work through a real case study, including video and photographic evidence, to translate elevated risk into a suitable ERPO Petition and Narrative.
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Note: This course is best for practitioners who have completed ERPO Essentials for Law Enforcement or already have some experience with ERPO investigations. Contact us at info@97Percent.us with questions.
97P ERPO and BTAM for Law Enforcement and Public Safety
(3-Day Course)
This is the comprehensive, in-depth training that focuses on integrating the Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) framework with the ERPO tool. The goal is to establish an evidence-based violence prevention strategy that utilizes prevention and enforcement.
Course Objectives include:
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Applying a BTAM model to investigate threats of gun violence, including: identifying threats, gathering evidence, assessing the totality of circumstances, mitigating the threat (utilizing ERPO and all available tools), and managing the person of concern through community partners.
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Connecting BTAM elements to the ERPO statutory framework to strengthen petitions and courtroom testimony.
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Applying the BTAM framework to build sound safety plans for ERPO service, prioritizing de-escalation and compliance.
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Building a foundation for all threats investigations that improves officer safety, increases cooperative outcomes, reduces bias, and limits liability.
Extreme Risk Protection Orders for Law Enforcement - Train the Trainer (5-Day Course)
Designed for: Experienced investigators and law enforcement trainers.
Those who successfully complete this program will be certified to teach the following core 97Percent ERPO courses to their respective agencies:
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97P Extreme Risk Protection Order Essentials for Gun Violence Prevention
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97P Extreme Risk Protection Orders – Essentials for Law Enforcement
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97P Extreme Risk Protection Orders – Petition Writing Workshop
Participants will also learn to create ERPO Case Studies based on their agency’s cases to highlight the tool's usefulness in a local context.
This course can be taught to a mixed national audience or tailored to the specific laws and concerns in a specific state or jurisdiction. Please contact us at info@97Percent.us to discuss how we can support you in developing capacity in your area.
Scheduling & Support
The fees we collect support our ongoing efforts to deliver the most up-to-date training available to agencies across the country.
To schedule training for your agency or organization, or if you have questions about our training program, please contact:
Christopher Carita
Senior Training Specialist
chris@97Percent.us
