Center Releases Implementation Guide for Indiana’s Extreme Risk Protection Order Law
The Jake Laird Law (JLL) is Indiana’s extreme risk protection order or “red flag” law.
The Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions at the Bloomberg School of Public Health has released a new guide, Indiana’s Jake Laird Law Implementation Guide. The Jake Laird Law (JLL) is Indiana’s extreme risk protection order or “red flag” law. Designed for law enforcement officers, attorneys, judges, mental & behavioral health professionals, public health practitioners, suicide prevention and gun violence prevention advocates, among others, the guide provides comprehensive information on the key concepts of Indiana’s Jake Laird Law.
The state’s extreme risk law is named for a law enforcement officer—Jake Laird—who was shot and killed while responding to a call of a man walking in a neighborhood street with a rifle in August 2004. Earlier in the year, the shooter had been placed under immediate detention, and had his firearms seized. However, his firearms were subsequently returned to him because the law enforcement agency did not have the authority to hold them. Following the passage of the JLL law in 2005, Indiana law enforcement officers were allowed to seize firearms from a person who poses a physical danger to themselves and/or others.
Our guide includes comprehensive information on the following topics:
- Overview of gun violence and law
- How to use the law
- FAQs
- Components of the law
- Similar Indiana laws & when to use them
- Effectiveness of ERPO laws
- Case studies
Research from the Center shows that extreme risk laws are an important tool to prevent firearm violence, including mass shootings, suicides, and interpersonal violence. Indiana’s Jake Laird Law allows for the issuance of risk warrants, which are civil orders designed to prevent violence with firearms. The intent of the law is to temporarily separate someone who is a physical danger to themselves and/or others from the most lethal means at their disposal: firearms.
Learn more about Indiana’s JLL and more by reading our guide. Download and share the overview and FAQs summary.
