(Perm). Termination of extreme risk protection orders

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(a) Any respondent against whom a final extreme risk protection order, including a renewal of the extreme risk protection order, was issued may, on one occasion during the one-year period the order in in effect, submit a written motion to the Superior Court for the District of Columbia requesting that the order be terminated.

(b) Upon receipt of the motion for termination, the court shall set a date for a hearing, and notice of the request shall be served on the petitioner. The hearing shall occur at least 14 days after the date of service of the motion upon the petitioner.

(c) In determining whether terminate a final extreme risk protection order pursuant to this section, the court shall consider all relevant evidence, including:

(1) Any history or pattern of threats of violence, or acts of violence, by the respondent directed toward themselves or others;

(2) Any recent threats of violence, or acts of violence, by the respondent directed toward themselves or others;

(3) The respondent's acquisition of any firearms, ammunition, or other deadly or dangerous weapons within one year before the filing of the petition;

(4) The unlawful or reckless use, display, or brandishing of a firearm by the respondent;

(5) Respondent's criminal history;

(6) Respondent's violation of a court order;

(7) Evidence of the respondent experiencing a mental health crisis, or other dangerous mental health issues; and

(8) Respondent's use of a controlled substance, as that term is defined in § 48-901.02.

(d) The court shall, before terminating a final extreme risk protection order, examine any witnesses under oath.

(e) The court shall terminate a final extreme risk protection order if the respondent establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that the respondent does not pose a significant danger of causing bodily injury to self or others by having possession or control of, purchasing, or receiving any firearm or ammunition.

(f)(1) If the court grants a motion to terminate pursuant to this section, notice of the termination shall be personally served upon the petitioner by a sworn member of the Metropolitan Police Department and sent to the petitioner by electronic mail.

(2) The court shall submit a copy of the order issued under this section to the Metropolitan Police Department on or before the next business day for service upon the respondent. Service of a notice of termination shall take precedence over the service of other documents, unless the other documents are of a similar emergency nature.

(3) If the Metropolitan Police Department cannot complete personal service upon the petitioner within 5 business days after receiving an order from the court under paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Metropolitan Police Department shall notify the court.

(4) Within one business day after service, the Metropolitan Police Department shall submit proof of service to the court.

(Sept. 24, 1976, D.C. Law 1-85, title X, § 1008; as added May 10, 2019, D.C. Law 22-314, § 2(e), 66 DCR 1672.)


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