Terms Used In This Report Temporary Order of Protection A temporary Order of Protection refers to an Order of Protection issued before the defendant has been notified of the case or had an opportunity for a court hearing.

Final Order of Protection A final Order of Protection refers to an Order of Protection issued after the defendant has been notified of the case and had an opportunity for a hearing. Where data are cited in this report concerning final Orders of Protection, Everytown has excluded data from cases where it could not be determined whether the defendant had notice of the hearing and an opportunity to be heard.

Background

The Protect Rhode Island Families Act

In 2017, Rhode Island lawmakers passed the Protect Rhode Island Families Act. The intent of this law was clear: to prevent domestic abusers from using firearms to threaten, harm, or kill their intimate partners and family members. The act amended Rhode Island law to prohibit all domestic abusers from possessing firearms and to require all prohibited domestic abusers to comply with the prohibition by surrendering any firearms in their possession. Specifically, under the Protect Rhode Island Families Act:

All persons subject to a final Order of Protection are prohibited by law from owning or possessing a firearm. A final order is issued after the defendant has notice and an opportunity to be heard. The penalty for violating the firearm prohibition is imprisonment for no less than two years and no more than 10 years.

A final order is issued after the defendant has notice and an opportunity to be heard. The penalty for violating the firearm prohibition is imprisonment for no less than two years and no more than 10 years. To enforce this prohibition, the new law also requires that judges order all defendants subject to a final Order of Protection to surrender any firearms they may already have. As the General Assembly announced, the intent of the new law was two-fold: (1) to “prohibit gun possession by domestic abusers… subject to court-issued final protective orders,” and (2) to “ensure that all those subject to the prohibition actually turn in their guns when they become prohibited from possessing them.” Governor Gina Raimondo emphasized this important change in the law, informing Rhode Islanders that the new law “will require individuals with a final protective order issued against them… to physically surrender their firearms within 24 hours.” Consistent with this mandate, the new law requires the Family Court to “provide a notice on all forms requesting a protective order that a person restrained under this section shall be ordered” (emphasis added) to surrender possession of any firearms.

As the General Assembly announced, the intent of the new law was two-fold: (1) to “prohibit gun possession by domestic abusers… subject to court-issued final protective orders,” and (2) to “ensure that all those subject to the prohibition actually turn in their guns when they become prohibited from possessing them.” Governor Gina Raimondo emphasized this important change in the law, informing Rhode Islanders that the new law “will require individuals with a final protective order issued against them… to physically surrender their firearms within 24 hours.” Consistent with this mandate, the new law requires the Family Court to “provide a notice on all forms requesting a protective order that a person restrained under this section shall be ordered” (emphasis added) to surrender possession of any firearms. Prior to entering a final Order of Protection, the court may issue a temporary Order on an ex parte basis for up to 21 days. The text and legislative history of the Protect Rhode Island Families Act are unclear as to whether the act was intended to require judges to order firearm surrender in every such temporary Order of Protection, or whether instead judges retain discretion to decide in each case whether to do so at the temporary Order stage. Regardless, judges are clearly permitted to order defendants subject to a temporary Order of Protection to surrender their firearms.

All persons ordered to surrender their firearms—whether at the final or temporary order stage—must do so within 24 hours of receiving notice of the order. To ensure that defendants actually do surrender their firearms, all defendants so ordered must file a proof of firearm surrender with the Family Court within 72 hours of service of the order.

Further information about Everytown’s analysis of the Protect Rhode Island Families Act can be found in the notes to this report and in Appendix A: Legal Analysis.

Methodology

To understand whether the Protect Rhode Island Families Act was being implemented effectively and consistently, Everytown, in partnership with Moms Demand Action, established a court monitoring program in the Rhode Island Family Court. Between October 2018 and May 2019, trained volunteers attended court and watched domestic violence Order of Protection cases. In total, volunteers monitored 289 hearings in domestic violence Order of Protection cases. Volunteers completed a survey for each hearing they observed. These surveys were reviewed and coded by an attorney.

In addition to the data collected from in-court observations, Everytown requested and was granted access to court files containing documents including the petitions and affidavits filed by the plaintiffs in the cases and court orders issued by the judge. These files were reviewed and coded by an attorney. In total, 165 court files were reviewed and analyzed.

These data sets were then analyzed to draw findings. Statistical analysis was applied to determine whether findings were statistically significant. Further information about project methodology can be found in the notes to each data point cited and in Appendix C: Methodology.

Recommendations

Everytown and Moms Demand Action respectfully call on Rhode Island Family Court judges to take the following steps to implement the Protect Rhode Island Families Act and reduce firearm-related risks in Order of Protection cases:

Ensure that every final Order of Protection clearly notify the defendant that they are prohibited by law from possessing firearms and explicitly require the defendant to surrender all firearms in their possession (including by removing the checkbox on final order forms that erroneously suggests the judge has discretion on whether to order firearm surrender). Explain firearm restrictions pursuant to state and federal law to the parties, including by explaining when possession of a firearm by the defendant will be a crime under state law. Take steps to ensure that defendants surrender their firearms when ordered to do so, including by monitoring case files, conducting compliance review hearings, and enforcing court orders with appropriate remedies. Inquire about the presence and location of firearms.

These recommendations are consistent with the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges’ best-practice guidance for judges presiding over Order of Protection cases. As the NCJFCJ advises, court orders should be “clear and precise as to when, where, and how” firearms must be surrendered.

Obtaining An Order Of Protection In Rhode Island

The current process for obtaining a domestic violence Order of Protection in the Rhode Island Family Court is explained below as a guide for those who are unfamiliar with the process.

1. The survivor of domestic violence requests an Order of Protection.

To obtain a temporary Order of Protection, a plaintiff must file a petition and sworn statement describing the abuse they have suffered.

The petition form notifies all parties that if the order is granted, the defendant will be required to surrender their firearms, and asks plaintiffs to check a box to indicate whether they are seeking a firearm surrender order.

2. The judge decides whether to issue a temporary Order of Protection and schedules a hearing.

A Family Court judge or magistrate reviews each petition and decides whether it meets the legal standard for a temporary Order of Protection. This order is typically made “ex parte” (before notice to the defendant) and without an in-person hearing, and will last for up to 21 days.

To issue a temporary Order of Protection, the judge must make a finding that it “clearly appears” that “immediate and irreparable injury, loss, or damage” will be caused by the defendant to the plaintiff before a hearing is held. Official Family Court data show that judges issue a temporary Order of Protection in response to approximately 77 percent of petitions. The Family Court schedules a subsequent hearing for every petition for an Order of Protection.

If the judge issues a temporary Order of Protection, the judge checks a box on the order to indicate whether the defendant is required to surrender their firearms. For further discussion of firearm surrender in the context of temporary Orders of Protection, see Appendices A and B.

The judge holds a hearing and decides whether to issue a final Order of Protection.

At the hearing, both parties have the right to be present and to testify before the judge.

Once the judge has considered the evidence, they decide whether to issue a final Order of Protection. Official Family Court data show that judges issue a final Order of Protection in response to approximately 40 percent of petitions. If the judge issues a final Order of Protection, the defendant is automatically prohibited by Rhode Island law from possessing firearms; additionally, recent changes to Rhode Island law make clear that surrender is to be mandated by the court in all final orders. In practice, judges check a box on the final Order of Protection to indicate whether the defendant is required to surrender their firearms.

4. The defendant must comply with the Order of Protection, including the firearm surrender requirement.

Domestic abusers who are subject to an Order of Protection with a surrender requirement must relinquish any firearms in their possession within 24 hours of notice of the order taking effect and must prove that they have done so by filing a sworn firearm surrender affidavit with the court within 72 hours of service of the order.

The final Order of Protection issued by the judge includes text notifying the defendant that continuing possession of firearms may lead to criminal prosecution. At the end of the time period covered by the Order of Protection, the firearm conditions are lifted and any firearms surrendered may be returned to the defendant.

If the defendant violates the Order of Protection by continuing to possess firearms or failing to file a firearm surrender affidavit, they may be found to be in contempt of court in the Family Court or they may face criminal penalties in the District Court for violation of an Order of Protection or unlawful possession of a firearm.

Detailed Findings And Case Studies

Family Court judges failed to require firearm surrender in approximately two-thirds of final Orders of Protection.

Family Court judges required firearm surrender in only 34 percent of final Orders of Protection. While significant progress has been made since the passage of the Protect Rhode Island Families Act, serious gaps persist. In approximately two-thirds of cases, after ruling that a survivor of domestic violence was at risk of immediate and irreparable injury or harm from the defendant, the judge failed to require the defendant to surrender any firearms in their possession.

Our research found that despite the changes to Rhode Island law, judges continued to exercise discretion about whether to require firearm surrender in final Orders of Protection. Judges were far more likely to require firearm surrender when a survivor specifically requested this order or where there was specific evidence that the defendant had a firearm.

Case Study A plaintiff requested an Order of Protection including the firearm surrender requirement, explaining in her affidavit that the defendant had placed a concealed tracker on her car to stalk her, sent her photos of himself holding a gun, and told her that she would need “a really good hiding place.” In this case, the judge granted the temporary Order of Protection and firearm surrender order, and the defendant complied by surrendering his guns and filing a firearm surrender affidavit.

Judges were more likely to require the defendant to surrender firearms in specific circumstances

Analysis includes 79 records where a final Order of Protection was issued. Between-group differences are statistically significant (p < .001).

Analysis includes 77 records of cases where an Order of Protection was made, analysis excludes cases where researchers could not determine whether the petition included evidence of firearm possession. Between-group differences are statistically significant (p < .001).

Case Study A plaintiff submitted sworn testimony that a person close to the defendant had warned her that the defendant had threatened to shoot and kill her if he lost their Family Court case. The judge issued a temporary Order of Protection that required the defendant to surrender his firearms; however, when the judge issued the final Order of Protection, the firearm surrender requirement was removed, despite the fact that the defendant had not filed proof of firearm surrender or an attestation that he was not in possession of any firearms.

To fully implement the changes to Rhode Island law made by the Protect Rhode Island Families Act, judges must issue a gun surrender order in every case where a final Order of Protection is issued. Relying on or requiring survivors to specifically request firearm surrender or to provide testimony about the defendant’s access to firearms as a prerequisite for requiring firearm surrender in a final order is, in our view, a dangerous misinterpretation and misapplication of the law, particularly because under the Protect Rhode Island Families Act it is illegal for anyone subject to such a final order to possess a firearm, as discussed further in Appendix A: Legal Analysis.

Requiring survivors to seek firearm surrender as an additional requirement in an Order of Protection is bad policy that endangers survivors of domestic abuse and shifts the burden to someone who often does not know whether their abuser has access to a firearm—especially where the survivor does not live with the abuser and may never have lived with the abuser. Even where survivors do know that their abuser has a firearm, they may decide not to check the firearm surrender box on court forms for fear of retribution or because they do not have enough information to assess how much danger they face from an armed abuser.

Survivors also may not check the firearm surrender request box because the statutorily required language that appears on the Family Court’s forms is unequivocally clear in stating that the firearm prohibition and surrender requirements will apply in all cases where a final Order of Protection is issued. Specifically, as required by the Protect Rhode Island Families Act , the petition form that every plaintiff must complete to request an Order of Protection includes the following notification:

NOTICE PURSUANT TO G.L. 1956 § 15-15-3(c). A person restrained under G.L. 1956 § 15-15-3(c) shall be ordered pursuant to G.L. 1956 § 11-47-5 to surrender possession of any firearms while the protective order is in effect; and shall be entitled to a hearing within fifteen (15) days of surrendering any firearms.

Recommendations

Everytown and Moms Demand Action recommend that judges ensure that every final Order of Protection explicitly prohibits the defendant from possessing firearms and requires the defendant to surrender all firearms in their possession. Further, we recommend that the Family Court revise its order forms to replace the firearm surrender checkbox on the final Order of Protection forms with a mandatory provision notifying the defendant that they are prohibited from possessing firearms and requiring the defendant to surrender all firearms in their possession. We further recommend that the checkbox on the petition form be amended to make clear that even if firearm surrender is not ordered at the temporary order stage, it is mandatory at the final order stage. For further discussion of firearm surrender at the temporary Order of Protection stage, see Appendices A and B.

These recommendations are consistent with the practice of other courts charged with protecting survivors of domestic violence. For example, the New Hampshire Circuit Court District Division has developed Domestic Violence Case Protocols requiring judges to include the firearm surrender requirement in every final Order of Protection. In Tennessee, the petition for an Order of Protection form includes a pre-checked box indicating that firearm surrender is a mandatory condition of all final Orders of Protection. Such examples provide models of best practices that the Rhode Island Family Court may find valuable.

Judges rarely explained that defendants were prohibited from possessing firearms and required to surrender any firearms in their possession.

All defendants to a final Order of Protection are prohibited from possessing firearms under Rhode Island law—regardless of whether the judge has specifically ordered them to surrender their firearms. However, Family Court judges explained that the defendant was prohibited from possessing a gun for the duration of the final Order of Protection in only 18 percent of cases observed.

However, volunteers observed that judges were more likely to explain this condition in certain circumstances.

Factors associated with judges orally informing parties of firearm prohibition

Analysis includes 106 observed cases where a final Order of Protection was issued; analysis excludes cases where the volunteer was “unsure” about whether firearm-related testimony was presented, cases that resulted in temporary orders, and cases that were continued, vacated, withdrawn, unrelated, or where the volunteer was “unsure” of the case type. Between-group differences are statistically significant (p < .05).

Explaining these requirements in all final Order of Protection hearings may add a couple of minutes to the time that it takes judges to conclude each case. But this additional time is not onerous, provides the parties with critical information about their case, and is vitally important to protecting victims of abuse and disarming their abusers. An in-person, on-the-record explanation of the firearm prohibition and surrender requirements removes any question that both parties are aware that these requirements apply to every final Order of Protection. Critically, explaining the firearm prohibition and surrender requirement may deter the defendant from possessing firearms while subject to the order, and it demonstrates that the court and the community take this law seriously and will fully enforce its provisions in order to protect the plaintiff from further harm.

Failing to explain the firearm conditions unnecessarily places plaintiffs at additional and unnecessary risk, as they may know that the defendant continues to possess a gun but not understand that they can seek help from law enforcement or the courts to disarm their abuser while the order is in effect. The parties do receive a written Order of Protection from the court in all cases where an Order of Protection is issued. However, the information on this form may be confusing to many parties. For example, although all defendants to a final Order of Protection are prohibited from possessing a firearm (regardless of whether the judge specifically issues this order as a condition of an Order of Protection), the written notification is less than clear:

Case Study A plaintiff requested an Order of Protection including the firearm surrender requirement, explaining in her affidavit that the defendant had beaten her until she blacked out in front of their children. At the hearing, the judge issued an Order of Protection but did not include the firearm surrender requirement. Volunteers observed that the judge did not explain that the defendant was prohibited by state law from possessing a firearm for the duration of the order. Another plaintiff requested an Order of Protection including the firearm surrender requirement, explaining in her affidavit that the defendant had recently been released on bail and was hiding a gun at another property. At the hearing, volunteers observed the judge explain that the defendant must surrender his guns within 24 hours or be held in contempt of court. The defendant filed the firearm surrender affidavit in compliance with the court order.

Recommendations

Everytown recommends that judges explain firearm restrictions pursuant to state and federal law to the parties, including by explaining when possession of a firearm by the defendant will be a crime under state law.

A full explanation of the firearm restrictions should include the following information:

the defendant is prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm for the duration of any final Order of Protection;

the defendant is required to surrender any firearms within 24 hours of such order being made;

the defendant is required to return to court and file an affidavit within 72 hours of service of the order attesting either that they do not possess any firearms or that they surrendered their firearms;

firearm surrender may be completed by transferring firearms to a designated set of recipients (limited to a law enforcement agency or a federally licensed firearm dealer, who may in turn transfer the firearm to a designated third party);

failure to comply with the order to surrender firearms and file the firearm surrender affidavit is contempt of court and may constitute a violation of the Order of Protection, which is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment.

Other jurisdictions have developed useful resources to assist judges with communicating firearm prohibition and surrender requirements. For example, in Nashville, Tennessee, the Nashville Office of Family Safety has developed a bench card that prompts judges to orally explain important elements of the firearm surrender law, including the duration of the firearm prohibition and the time period for relinquishment of firearms. In Multnomah County, Oregon, defendants are provided with a “Frequently Asked Questions” document that answers questions about how, when, and where defendants must surrender their firearms. In King County, Washington, defendants are shown a video prior to their hearing explaining the process. The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and Firearms recommends that defendants be provided with an instruction sheet describing the deadline and location to surrender firearms, surrender-process guidelines, and the type of proof required by the court. Such examples provide models of best practices that the Rhode Island Family Court may find valuable.

Only a little more than one-third of defendants complied with the firearm surrender requirement.

In cases where the judge ordered the defendant to surrender their firearms, the defendant complied with this order—whether in a temporary or a final Order of Protection—by filing the required paperwork in only 36 percent of cases.

Defendants complying with the order to surrender their firearms Source: Domestic Violence and Firearm Surrender in Rhode Island

Case Study One defendant failed to surrender his firearm even though twice ordered to do so and even though the plaintiff submitted evidence that the defendant had beaten and strangled her while she was pregnant, threatened to get a gun and kill her, and was previously imprisoned for domestic violence. The judge granted a temporary Order of Protection that required the defendant to surrender his firearms, but the defendant did not comply with that order. At a subsequent hearing, volunteers observed that the defendant agreed to a final Order of Protection including the firearm surrender requirement, but the judge did not raise the fact that the defendant was in violation of the previous requirement to surrender his firearms. When we conducted a follow-up review of the court file, we learned that the defendant had never complied with the firearm surrender requirement.

Failure to monitor firearm surrender can have devastating consequences. Prior research has shown that when compliance with firearm surrender requirements is not monitored, abusers often continue to possess firearms, placing survivors at risk of serious injury or death, and that survivors of domestic violence who do not know whether their abuser has complied with the surrender order experience increased fear and uncertainty and decreased feelings of safety and well-being.

Judges can play a critical role in whether defendants comply with the order to surrender their firearms, promoting survivor safety.

During the study period, volunteers noticed a change in court practice, whereby court staff appeared to begin asking defendants on the day of their court appearance to file the firearm surrender affidavit. Our data show a corresponding statistically significant improvement in compliance over time. While the records for cases filed in 2018 included proof of firearm surrender 22 percent of the time, cases filed in 2019 included proof of firearm surrender 63 percent of the time.

We observed a promising improvement in defendants’ compliance during the project, which appeared to be driven by improvements in judges’ practice. In the small number of cases where the judge explained that the defendant was required to surrender their firearms, defendants were more likely to comply with the order by filing proof of firearm surrender or attesting that they did not own firearms—doing so in seven out of ten cases where the judge gave this explanation.

Case Study A plaintiff requested an Order of Protection without specifically requesting firearm surrender, explaining in her affidavit that the defendant had threatened to badly injure her. At the hearing, the judge asked for more information about the threats, and the plaintiff testified that the defendant had threatened to shoot her and sent messages to her neighbor telling them not to be concerned if they heard gunshots. The judge granted the Order of Protection, including the firearm surrender requirement, and explained to the parties that the defendant must surrender his firearms. The defendant complied with the court’s order. Had the judge not asked this follow-up question, the court may not have been aware of the imminent threat from an armed abuser.

Judges can also facilitate compliance by inquiring about the presence of firearms. This practice provides judges with important information about specific risks to the plaintiff’s safety in each case. However, volunteers observing cases found that only 25 percent of all cases included discussion of evidence about the defendant’s access to firearms. Failing to ask questions about firearms may endanger both survivors and law enforcement officers. It is critical that law enforcement officers receive as much information about the number and location of firearms in the defendant’s possession as can be obtained, so that they can properly prepare and protect themselves and the plaintiff when serving court orders and responding to any violent incidents.

Recommendations

Everytown and Moms Demand Action recommend that judges:

take steps to ensure that defendants surrender their firearms when ordered to do so, including by monitoring case files, conducting compliance review hearings, and enforcing court orders with appropriate remedies; and

inquire about the presence and location of firearms.

Under Rhode Island law, defendants must file proof of their compliance with the Rhode Island Family Court. This means that judges assigned to each case have information at their fingertips about whether the defendant complied with the court’s order. The court and individual judges can and should use this information to identify cases where the defendant has kept firearms in violation of the court order and require the defendant to comply with the order. For example, court clerks could ensure that Order of Protection cases are not marked as “closed” on court software if a firearm surrender affidavit is outstanding. Compliance hearings are already utilized by the Family Court in Order of Protection cases to determine compliance with other orders. They are also used in other jurisdictions to facilitate compliance with a court order to surrender firearms; for example, North Carolina’s best-practices guide for judges recommends that judges set compliance hearings where appropriate, particularly in circumstances where the defendant has not complied with a court order to surrender their firearms.

The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges recommends that judges “establish a mechanism for monitoring respondents’ surrender or relinquishment of firearms and ammunition” and “conduct a compliance review hearing… [and] if the respondent fails to appear, issue a bench warrant.” Similarly, courts in other jurisdictions have developed compliance monitoring processes. For example, in Multnomah County, Oregon, court administrators track cases where a timely firearm surrender affidavit is not filed with the court and forward a list of these individuals to law enforcement officers at least once per month.

The NCJFCJ further recommends that judges in Order of Protection cases “inquire as to the presence and location of firearms, including those possessed by family members or friends who may give the respondent direct or indirect access to firearms and ammunition.” To facilitate compliance with court orders, we further recommend that the Family Court revise Order of Protection petition forms to include space for the plaintiff to describe the number, type, and location of all firearms owned or possessed by the defendant. In Nashville, Tennessee, court forms provide space for the plaintiff to include any known information about the defendant’s firearms, and the Nashville Office of Family Safety has developed a bench card that prompts judges to inquire about the presence and location of firearms.

Acknowledgements

Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund and the Rhode Island chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, the volunteer grassroots network of Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the Rhode Island Family Court. The Court generously provided us with copies of court files, responded to requests for information, and allowed us the time to meet with court administrators and judges. We greatly appreciate the time and care taken by Court staff to assist us, and we hope that this report will in turn assist them in their important work to protect the safety of Rhode Islanders.

We are grateful to Ms. Denise Kronstadt and the Fund for Modern Courts for assisting us in designing and implementing this study.