Missouri Bill Signed into Law to let Domestic Violence Victims Ask for Lifetime Protection Order

A Missouri bill has been signed into law that will allow domestic violence victims to ask for a lifetime order of protection against their abuser. If a judge grants the victims a lifetime order, the victims will not have to face their abuser in court each year. Colleen Coble, with the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, says the last time Missouri had this many orders of protection provisions in one legislative bill might have been in 2000.

The bill expands the definition of stalking to include the use of third parties and electronic devices to stalk someone. It also allows pets to be added to an order of protection.