Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Office of Alternative and Community Responses announced on May 11 the start of a multi-year public awareness campaign focused on New Jersey’s Extreme Risk Protective Order (ERPO) law. The initiative aims to inform residents about how ERPOs can temporarily remove firearms from individuals considered at risk of causing harm to themselves or others.
The campaign highlights the importance of ERPOs as a tool for preventing gun violence in New Jersey. By increasing understanding and visibility around these orders, officials hope more people will recognize when an ERPO is appropriate and feel confident in requesting one.
“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.”
Tiffany Wilson, Director of the Office of Alternative and Community Responses (OACR), said, “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. With this campaign, we will increase awareness and correct any misunderstandings about New Jersey’s ERPO law.”
The first phase will roll out digital content in English and Spanish ahead of National Gun Violence Awareness Month in June. Later phases plan messaging through billboards, radio spots, videos, expanded social media outreach in seven additional languages, and a dedicated website with information about how ERPOs work.
According to the official website, the New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin functions as a state agency focused on justice and public safety across all counties by enforcing laws, prosecuting offenses, providing oversight for law enforcement agencies statewide, supporting crime labs, advocating for victims’ rights, offering consumer protection initiatives—and upholding legal standards throughout New Jersey.
Funding for this effort comes from a Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program grant administered by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance. This support enables coordinated strategies involving county prosecutors’ offices as well as community groups throughout the state.
Broader implications include improved coordination among state agencies on crisis intervention measures such as ERPO programs—a step officials believe could reduce gun-related deaths statewide.
