Reducing firearm harm by enforcing domestic violence protection order firearm rules
RFA-CE-23-006, Preventing firearm-related harm through Domestic Violence Protection Order firearm prohibitions and relinquishment
Looking at whether enforcing rules that stop people under domestic violence protection orders from having guns lowers gun injuries and deaths for people who have experienced intimate partner violence.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11231211 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project examines how enforcing firearm prohibitions tied to Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPOs) affects later gun-related crime, injuries, and deaths. Researchers will use individual-level Washington state records, linking DVPO data with law enforcement and health records to track outcomes after protection orders are issued. The team will focus on impacts for American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, and multiracial women who face higher risks. The work also examines whether relinquishment procedures and other enforcement actions are actually carried out.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people who have been issued a domestic violence protection order—especially survivors of intimate partner violence in Washington state, including American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, and multiracial women.
Not a fit: People without a domestic violence protection order, not exposed to intimate partner violence, or living outside the study area are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lower firearm injuries and deaths among survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence and improve how firearm prohibitions are enforced.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior state-level research suggests firearm prohibitions can reduce violence, but rigorous individual-level evaluations like this are uncommon.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- Seattle Children's Hospital — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ellyson, Alice Marie — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Ellyson, Alice Marie
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.