Barman

For victims of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault or stalking, it can be difficult to get away from the abuser, even by relocating.

Determined abusers can track down their victims again, using both public and private records in their pursuit.

But there is good news to report. A bill establishing the "Safe at Home" program, which will make locating victims much more difficult, was signed into law in Missouri in August 2007.

With the new law, the office of the Secretary of State has created a "buffer" zone for these victims by establishing a designated address for victims and their minor children to use instead of their physical address. Mail is then forwarded from the state office to the physical address.

Juliet Barman, case manager for Lighthouse Shelter, said, "The 'Safe at Home' Address Confidentiality Program provides a vital service to Missouri's domestic violence, rape, sexual assault and stalking survivors by denying assailants the opportunity to use records made by state and local agencies and the courts as a means to find their victims."

Participants should ask anyone with whom they correspond to use the designated address -- the fewer people and government agencies that know where the participant is, the safer she/he will be.

Barman is the designated application assistant for Saline County. She has been trained and certified through the office of the Secretary of State.

Agencies cannot require the participant to disclose his or her confidential address. Agencies requiring verification of residency in a service area or district such as schools, libraries and county or city service agencies can request confirmation from the Safe at Home program office. This information can be verified without revealing the confidential address.

With enactment of the law, Missouri joins 30 other states, including California, Vermont, Maryland, Florida and Minnesota in extending legal protections for victims of abuse.

Detailed information about the program can be obtained by calling Lighthouse Shelter at 660-886-9880 or toll-free at 888-831-0988. Contact Lighthouse Shelter by e-mail at LighthouseShelter@hotmail.com.

Contact Kathy Fairchild at marshalleditor@socket.net