Law and Public Safety

Enhancing Victim Safety

Individuals experiencing domestic violence face serious risks
when choosing to leave an abusive relationship and/or file for
an Order of Protection. Abusers often grow more dangerous
when they believe that they have lost control of the victim. To enhance victim safety, the St. Louis County DV Court offers local domestic violence agencies the opportunity to provide advocacy both at the time of filing for an Order of Protection and at the time of the court hearing.

          
Advocacy at the Time of Filing
Legal Advocates for Abused Women (LAAW), through its County Order of Protection Assistance (COPA) program, provides advocacy and assistance to victims of domestic violence who come to the courthouse to file for an Order of Protection. COPA advocates provide immediate crisis support, safety planning, information about the court system and victims' rights under the Adult Abuse Law, assistance completing the petition for an Order of Protection, legal referrals and referrals to other community resources. The COPA office is located next to the Adult Abuse Office, which is on the Plaza Level of the St. Louis County Courthouse at 7900 Carondelet, Clayton 63105. The COPA office is open Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. For more information about the services provided by LAAW, please visit: www.laawstl.org.

Advocacy at Order of Protection Hearings
Trained advocates from local domestic violence organizations  are available to meet with petitioners at their full Order of Protection hearing. Advocates attend each of the weekly DV Court dockets to provide support, answer questions about the court process, develop safety plans and provide referrals to various community resources. These advocates generally sit in the jury box and can be approached if a Petitioner has a question or a concern. The judge may request that certain petitioners meet with an advocate, or the advocates will  approach Petitioners to offer their services. 

Children who have witnessed domestic violence often have voices that go unheard. In the DV Court, such children are recognized as victims too. Volunteer attorneys, called Guardians ad Litem, are routinely appointed to represent children and ensure that their interests are protected. These volunteer attorneys often develop custody and visitation plans intended to keep the children and the victim safe.

Creating a safety plan is an important factor when separating from an abusive relationship. For more information about developing a personalized safety plan, please visit: