Gun Violence Prevention & Reporting
Protecting our communities through prevention, accountability, and justice. Together we can reduce gun violence in Alameda County.
Report
Report gun violence, threats, or illegal firearm activity. Your information can help keep our community safe.
Prevent
Learn about prevention programs, resources, and ways we address gun violence to reduce our violence.
Get Resources
Access resources, support services, and information for victims, families, and communities.
Overview
Our Commitment to Safer Communities
The Alameda County District Attorney's Office works with law enforcement, community partners and residents to prevent gun violence, hold offenders accountable, and support victims.
Whether you want to report a crime, seek help or learn more about our initiatives, we're here to assist and inform you.
Emergency vs Non-Emergency
Emergency
If you or somoeone else is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local emergency
Non-Emergency
To report non-emergency incidents or for general information, contact your local law enforcement.
Community Prevention Strategy
Community Partnerships
Building strong partnerships with local organizations, schools, and faith-based groups to address the root causes of violence.
Youth & Education
Investing in youth programs, mentorship and education to empower the next generation and create positive opportunities.
Focused Enforcement
Targeting illegal gun possession and repeat offenders through intelligence-driven investigations and prosecutions.
Victim Support
Providing compassionate support and resources to victims and families impacted by gun violence.
How Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO) Works
1
Petition Filed
Law enforcement, family members, or other statutorily allowed individuals file a petition with the court.
2
Court Review
A judge reviews the petition and evidence to determine if a hearing is necessary.
3
Hearing
Both sides may present evidence at the hearing before the judge makes a decision.
4
Order Issued
If granted, the order may prohibit possession of firearms for up to 21 days or longer if extended.
5
Enforcement
Law enforcement ensures compliance as required by law.
Resources & Forms
Common Questions
What is a Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO)?
A Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO) is a court order that prohibits someone from having a gun, ammunition, or magazines.
The Gun Violence Restraining Order prevents a person from:
- Owning or possessing a gun, ammunition, or magazines
- Any future purchase of a gun, ammunition, or magazines
State law mandates the restrained person turn in any guns, ammunition, and magazines to the police or sell them to a licensed gun dealer (business with a Federal Firearms license, FFL).
Who can ask for a GVRO?
Close family member:
- Spouse or domestic partner
- Parent, child, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild
- Spouse's parent, child, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild
- Parent's spouse, child's spouse, sibling's spouse, grandparent's spouse, or grandchild's spouse
Roommate: Any person who regularly lives in their house now, or within the last 6 months.
Employer or coworker: The person who may use a gun (if they have had substantial and regular interactions with the person for at least a year and have obtained the approval of the employer).
Employee or teacher: Of certain schools the person has attended in the last 6 months, if the employee or teacher has obtained the approval of a school administrator or a school administration staff member with a supervisorial role.
Law enforcement officer: The police can ask for a Gun Violence Emergency Protective Order and the City Attorney can apply for a permanent order based on the emergency request.
How long does a GVRO last?
- A temporary order granted by a judge that law enforcement asks for can last up to 21 days and sometimes a little longer.
- A permanent order granted by a judge can last from 1 to 5 years per state law.
When can I ask for a Gun Violence Restraining Order?
- When a domestic violence incident occurs
- When threats occur in a neighborhood, school, work, business, or from family members
- When someone is experiencing a mental health crisis
- When someone is demonstrating violent behavior or verbalizing a future desire to commit it
What must be proven to a judge?
In court documents, a judge will consider all the following:
- The person to be restrained owns, has access to, or is attempting to get firearms;
- The person poses a significant danger, now or in the future, of personal injury to themselves or to another person; and
- A restraining order is necessary because another less restrictive way to protect against the danger will not work, or has been tried but did not work, or is not appropriate.
Are there different types of Gun Violence Restraining Orders?
- Yes, all orders accomplish the same task: take guns, ammunition, and magazines away from the restrained person and prevent them from buying new ones.
- An Emergency Gun Violence Restraining Order will last about 21 days. After the emergency order is served, the District Attorney's Office will typically apply for a permanent Gun Violence Restraining Order. In order to accomplish this task, a court hearing must take place. At the court hearing the judge will consider all the evidence and decide whether to approve a Gun Violence Restraining Order for up to 5 years.
- Ex-Parte Order: You can file this yourself without notifying the police or the City Attorney's Office. If the judge grants your application for the order, the order will have the same restrictions and length as any permanent Gun Violence Restraining Order. Regardless of who applies for the restraining order, it has the same conditions and restrictions.