Gov. Blunt Announces 2008 National Domestic Violence Awareness Month > Southern Governors’ Association

Gov. Blunt Announces 2008 National Domestic Violence Awareness Month


Press Release October 3, 2008 Health and Human Services JEFFERSON CITY — Gov. Matt Blunt today marked October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. “I believe it is a fundamental duty of state government to protect Missourians from violent criminals. Offering that protection requires tough laws and vigilant enforcement, and it also requires helping victims maintain their dignity, and protecting safe harbors in which victims can live again without fear,” Gov. Blunt said. “Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a time for communities, law enforcement agencies and victim assistance organizations to coordinate their efforts and raise public awareness.” Last year Gov. Blunt signed legislation that changed several state laws to better protect victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. Under the legislation: • Sexual assault victims will no longer be forced to pay for a medical exam, commonly called a “rape kit”, to gather the assailant’s DNA and archive the assault • Victims cannot be subject to a required polygraph test as a condition for prosecutors or police to investigate alleged crimes • Domestic Assault in the first degree, which involves attempted murder or serious physical harm, is elevated to a Class A felony on the second offense and is punishable by ten years to life in prison • Victims’ addresses can be removed from publicly accessible state and local records to help keep women safe by making it more difficult for abusers to find victims’ home or work addresses • Children are better protected by provisions that make it easier to sue for psychological injuries caused by sexual exploitation Gov. Blunt has worked diligently to better protect children from sex offenders. From the Amber Alert system to Jessica’s Law, he has made Missouri a safer place for our children and families. Important changes to Missouri law further protect crime victims and enhance public safety in the state. The Missouri Victim Automated Notification System (MOVANS) is another example of how Missouri is working to enhance victim safety and protection. MOVANS provides up-to-date information to registered crime victims regarding the custody status and court dates of their offender. Last October, Gov. Blunt announced an enhancement to MOVANS with the addition of protective order notification which enables petitioners of protective orders to be notified once their protective order is served as well as other confidential updates and information regarding their case at any time, day or night. Victims can register with MOVANS by calling the toll free number at 1-866-566-8267 or visiting www.vinelink.com. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, each year, more than 50 percent of domestic violence incidents are never reported to the police. Some victims may not recognize their experience as a crime. At times, not all protections are enforced. Additionally, some victims may face difficulty when trying to access services. Some may not be able to ask for help due to fear and some victims cannot receive assistance due to the lack of resources in their communities. According to the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, last year, 8,324 Missouri women and children were unable to find shelter at a domestic violence program. For more information about Domestic Violence Awareness Month activities in your community, please contact your local domestic violence agency or contact the Missouri Crime Victim Services Unit at 1-866-334-6682. The Missouri Crime Victim Services Unit is a program within the Department of Public Safety created to provide a liaison between victims, victim service providers, and the criminal justice system. ###