Domestic Violence
There’s No Excuse for Domestic Violence.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
How to Qualify for an Order for Protection and About the Protection Order Process
If you or your children are victims of domestic violence, that is, acts of violence, stalking, or threats against you by a family or household member, you MAY be eligible to obtain an Order for Protection form the Judge. This is a civil court order that restrains the person who has abused you from further acts of violence or threats, by setting limits on that person’s behavior. The Prosecutor’s Office is not involved in the Order of Protection process.
Where to Obtain Assistance
Circuit Court of Nodaway County, Missouri
305 North Main Street
Maryville, MO 64468
(660) 582-5431
North Star Advocacy Center
Court Advocate, Meghann Kosman
Crisis Line 1-866-382-7867
(660) 562-2320
Maryville Public Safety Department
222 East Third Street, Maryville
(660) 562-3209
Nodaway County Sheriff’s Department
404 North Vine, Maryville
(660) 582-7451
Campus Safety Department
Northwest Missouri State University
(660) 562-1254
For Additional Information
How to File for an Order of Protection
Order of Protection Petition
General Procedures for Order of Protection
What to Do If Your Order of Protection Was Violated
Address Confidentiality Program
The Safe at Home address confidentiality program provides victims of sexual assault, rape, stalking and domestic violence a substitute mailing address through the Secretary of State’s office. The Secretary of State’s office will forward participants’ first class mail, certified mail and court documents to help keep their location confidential.
How Safe at Home Works: It’s as simple as 1, 2, 3!
1. A victim of domestic abuse, rape, sexual assault or stalking relocates to an address unknown to their assailant.
2. The victim completes the Safe at Home application with the assistance of an Application Assistant registered by the Missouri Secretary of State. The applicant must have good reason to believe that she or he is a victim of domestic abuse, rape, sexual assault or stalking and fears further violent acts from her or his assailant.
3. Once the applicant is approved by the Safe at Home Program, the applicant will be given a designated address. This address may be used by the participant as her or his address on records when an address is required by state and local agencies ant the courts.
The Safe at Home Program is a vital service for victims of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault or stalking, who have relocated or are about to relocate, that helps keep their assailants from finding them.
The Safe at Home Program provides for a designated address to use when creating new records with state and local agencies and the courts, and acts as a mail forwarding service. These services limit an assailant’s ability to access public information which could identify the new location of a survivor who is in the Program.
Safe at Home is not a witness protection program; rather it is a mail forwarding services.
For more information, please call (866) 509-1409, e-mail SafeAtHome@sos.mo.gov or visit www.MoSafeatHome.com.
Confidential shelters:
North Star Advocacy Center (Maryville)
Crisis Line 1-866-382-7867
(660) 562-2320
YWCA Women’s Shelter (St. Joseph)
Crisis Line 1-800-653-1477
(816) 232-1225
Legal Assistance
If you are a victim of domestic violence, there are legal remedies designed to protect and help you. If you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.
It is against the law in the State of Missouri to commit acts of domestic violence. Domestic violence assaults can include such things as slapping, punching, shoving, pinching, throwing a person down, pulling hair, and other unwanted violent actions. You are also a domestic violence victim if you have been verbally or physically threatened and are fearful of being hurt.
There are legal options for you as a victim of domestic violence and help and protection are available. Here are some things you can do:
- Call the police and report what the abuser has done. Be sure to give them your name and your location. Give them as much information as you can. Officers will be sent to your location as soon as possible.
- File for a civil Order for Protection. This is an enforceable court order that will direct the abuser to stay away from you.
- Contact an attorney or Legal Aid of Western Missouri at (800) 892-2101.
For Help With Your Own Safety Plan
If your are the victim of domestic violence, the most important step you can take for yourself, is to build a safety plan to protect yourself from the abuser. When physical, emotional or sexual violence has occurred once in a relationship, it is likely to happen again. You need to plan ahead to protect yourself and your children.
What Hurts You Hurts Your Children
Children get hurt when they see their parents being yelled at, pushed or hit. They may feel scared and ashamed or think they caused the problem. Children grow up believing that it is okay to hurt other people or let other people hurt them.
Everyone Has the Right to Feel Safe in a Relationship
Domestic violence hurts all family members. When a person is abusive, he or she eventually loses the trust and respect of his or her partner. Abused partners are afraid to communicate their feelings and needs.
Disagreements develop from time to time in relationships. Domestic violence is not a disagreement. It is a whole pattern of behaviors used by one partner to establish and maintain power and control over the other. These behaviors can become more frequent and intense over time.
The abusive person is responsible for these behaviors and is the only one who can change them.