Susan B. Sorenson, PhD, Haikang Shen, PhD, and Katherine A. Vittes, MPH. School of Public Health, UCLA, 650 C.E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, 310-825-8749, kavittes@ucla.edu

Background. Each year, the largest new class of persons who are prohibited by law from purchasing a firearm are those against whom a restraining order has been issued. This research tabulates statewide administrative data for all types of restraining orders to describe persons ordered to be restrained, the restrained and protected person pairing, and conditions of the order itself, with particular emphasis on firearms restrictions.

Method. All restraining orders listed in California’s Domestic Violence Restraining Order System on June 6, 2003 constituted the study population. Descriptive statistics were calculated.

Findings. There were 227,941 restraining orders in the statewide database against adults on June 6, 2003. In 72.2% of the orders a woman was to be protected and a man was to be restrained. In 19.3%, the restrained person and the protected person were of the same sex. Mutual restraining orders were rare. Rates of restraining orders (i.e., restrained persons) were highest for men (1,496.6 per 100,000), 25-34 year olds (1,366.8 per 100,000), and Blacks (2,437.5 per 100,000). About one tenth of the restraining orders listed no firearms prohibitions. Moreover, one in six restraining orders were never served, so even fewer were aware of the restrictions that were imposed.

Conclusions. In California, there are as many restraining orders active on a given day as there are marriages during one year. Suggestions are made for how forms could be constructed and how restraining orders are served as well as about the logistics of implementing aspects of relevant laws.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to

• describe firearms restrictions associated with restraining orders;
• describe demographic groups at highest risk of having a restraining order issued against them;
• recognize how restraining order processes can be improved, with a particular focus on associated firearms restrictions.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.