Why We’re Studying the Link Between Protective Orders and Suicide in Oregon

At Protect Protection, we believe that understanding this connection is essential to building a safer, more responsive system for everyone involved.

What We’re Trying to Learn

We are working with state agencies to answer a simple but important question:

How many people who die by suicide in Oregon had a protective order of any kind at the time of their death or in the months leading up to it?

This includes:

• Family Abuse Prevention Act (FAPA) restraining orders

• Stalking Protective Orders

• Elder/Disabled Abuse Prevention Orders

• Sexual Abuse Protective Orders

• Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs)

• Other civil protective orders

No statewide report currently provides this information.

Why This Matters

Protective orders are often filed during moments of intense stress, fear, or instability. These are also moments when suicide risk can be elevated for petitioners, respondents, and families.

Understanding the overlap can help Oregon:

• Improve safety planning for people seeking protection

• Strengthen crisis‑response pathways in the courts

• Identify gaps in support for respondents who may be in distress

• Inform ERPO implementation and suicide‑prevention strategies

• Build a more trauma‑informed, data‑driven protective‑order system

This is not about assigning blame. It’s about identifying missed opportunities for help.

How We’re Getting the Data

Two state systems hold the pieces of this puzzle:

1. Oregon Violent Death Reporting System (ORVDRS)
   ORVDRS tracks all violent deaths in Oregon, including suicides. It includes information from medical examiners, law enforcement, and other sources.

2. Oregon Judicial Department (OJD)
   OJD maintains the statewide database of protective‑order cases.

Because both systems contain sensitive information, the data must be linked inside the agencies, not by us. We are requesting only de‑identified, aggregated statistics—never names or personal details.

Privacy and Respect Come First

• We will never receive any identifying information about individuals.

• We will never publish data that could reveal someone’s identity.

• Our goal is to understand patterns, not people.

What We Will Do With the Findings

Once the state provides the aggregated data, we will:

• Publish a public report

• Share findings with policymakers, advocates, and service providers

• Recommend reforms that improve safety and reduce preventable deaths

Our hope is simple: that better information leads to better protection.

Why This Work Matters

Protective orders are meant to save lives. Suicide prevention is meant to save lives. When these systems intersect, Oregon deserves to know how well they are working—and where they are falling short.

By shining light on this hidden overlap, we can help build a safer, more compassionate Oregon for everyone.