Carnahan Announces More Than 1,000 Crime Victims Protected through the Safe at Home Program April 07th 2011

From the SOS Office: Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan today announced that more than 1,000 Missourians have used the Safe at Home address confidentiality service since it was enacted in 2007. Safe at Home allows victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking to keep their home address secure and confidential, which limits an assailant’s ability to locate their victims.

Carnahan held news conferences this week in St. Louis and Columbia to recognize Sexual Assault Awareness Month and highlight the need for this vital service. Reports by law enforcement and service providers show the issue is widespread. Last year, there were more than 40,000 documented cases of sexual and domestic violence in Missouri. Almost 5,800 cases already have been reported statewide this year.

“Safe at Home helps to protect some of Missouri’s most vulnerable citizens as they work to rebuild their lives,” Carnahan said. “I’m proud that my office has been able to help so many survivors of domestic violence, and I will work with the General Assembly to ensure this important service continues to be available.”

Victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking may enroll in the Safe at Home program, which provides a substitute mailing address to use when creating new records with state and local government agencies and the courts. The mailing address also can be used to receive first class, legal and certified mail, allowing a participant to keep their home address confidential. As one Safe at Home participant said, “The first peace I have known since my abuse was when I enrolled in your program.”

To ensure all Missourians have access to the program, Carnahan’s office has trained over 500 Safe at Home Application Assistants serving in agencies across the state. The Application Assistants are available to meet locally with potential participants to make the enrollment process easy for survivors when they need it most. Application Assistants can be found in shelters, victim service agencies, law enforcement agencies, legal services offices and courthouses throughout Missouri.