Senator Gina Walsh, D-Bellefontaine Neighbors, recently filed legislation in the Missouri Senate that would strengthen Missouri’s domestic violence laws.
The measure, a joint effort by Sen. Walsh and Secretary of State Jason Kander, would strengthen the punishment for those who attempt to track down the location of victims of sexual assault, rape, stalking and domestic violence who are enrolled in the Safe at Home address confidentiality program.
Safe at Home was established in 2007 to provide survivors of violence a substitute mailing address through the Secretary of State’s office, which then forwards all mail and maintains the confidentiality of the participant’s location. According to the Secretary of State’s office, the program has protected more than 2,000 Missourians to date.
Senate Bill 710 would expand the set of aggravating factors in existing stalking laws to include accessing or attempting to access the address of a participant in the Safe at Home program. Violators would be subject to a Class D felony, resulting in up to four years imprisonment.
While hailing the incredible success of the program, Sen. Walsh also recognizes that it is not foolproof.
“Assailants can still obtain government documents which list participants’ names and actual addresses,” said Sen. Walsh. “We need to toughen our laws against domestic violence so that the authorities can apprehend and punish perpetrators who try to locate survivors who have sought the protection of the state through the Safe at Home program. This legislation would do that.”
The Secretary of State has also encouraged members of the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee to incorporate the proposal into their work on revising Missouri’s criminal code.
In announcing the effort, the Secretary of State said, “Strengthening the [Safe at Home] program in this way will give law enforcement more tools to protect survivors. I thank Senator Walsh for her commitment to this issue and I urge the Legislature to take up this bill and pass it this session.”
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, more than 41,000 incidents of domestic violence were reported in 2012.
“One in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. Those are our mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends. And, studies have shown children often bear witness to these horrific acts. Domestic violence isn’t just a women’s issue—it’s a societal issue. It affects all of us,” said Sen. Walsh. “As elected officials, and as supporters of a justice system that defends the innocent, it is vital we do everything we can to see survivors are better protected, and those who try to circumvent our laws are held accountable for their actions.”
For more information on Sen. Walsh’s sponsored legislation, click here or visit her Missouri Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov/walsh.
Senator Walsh was featured in the Secretary of State’s official announcement of the legislative effort. To view the release, click here or visit www.sos.mo.gov.
To learn more about the Safe at Home program, click here or visitwww.sos.mo.gov/safeAthome/.
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