KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AS A SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVOR MISSOURI STATUTE §595.201

The State of Missouri wants to protect survivors of sexual assault. In addition to the Crime Victims’ Rights afforded under the Missouri Constitution, Section 1, Article 32 and Missouri Statute § 595.209, you, as a sexual assault survivor, have the right to:

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1. Consult with an employee or volunteer of a rape crisis center as defined in section 455.003;

2. A sexual assault forensic examination as provided in section 595.220, or when a telehealth network is
    established, a forensic examination as provided in section 192.2520 and section 197.135;

3. A shower and a change of clothing, as reasonably available, at no cost to the sexual assault survivor;

4. Request to be examined by an appropriate medical provider or interviewed by a law enforcement officer

    of the gender of the sexual assault survivor's choosing, when there is an available appropriate medical
    provider or law enforcement official of the gender of the sexual assault survivor's choosing;

5. An interpreter who can communicate in the language of the sexual assault survivor's choice, as is
    reasonably available, in a timely manner;

6. Any patient who reports to a medical provider and is a victim of a sexual offense chooses whether to
    consent to a sexual assault forensic examination to collect evidence and how the evidence collected will
    be used. A victim’s choices about the evidence collection kit are:

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•  Reported. You choose to report the sexual offense to law enforcement for investigation.

•  Anonymous. The kit is sent to law enforcement and to the crime lab for testing without identifying
    you. No investigation will occur.

•  Unreported. The kit is collected and stored but not tested. No investigation will occur.

You may later choose to change your anonymous or unreported kit to reported. Note, however, unreported kits may not be kept longer than five years.

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7. If you had a sexual assault forensic examination kit collected you can track the evidence by going to:
    safetrack.mo.gov and entering your kit’s bar code number and your authentication code. If you
    do not remember those two numbers provided when your kit was collected, you can obtain them by
    contacting the medical provider that collected the evidence or the assigned law enforcement agency;

8. If you are investigating a civil claim or defense related to your reported sexual assault (in other words,
    suing the reported perpetrator or being sued by the reported perpetrator) or the law enforcement
    investigation into your report becomes inactive, you may be able to obtain copies of the police reports
    by making a Sunshine Law Request with the investigating law enforcement agency.

9. Be free from intimidation, harassment, and abuse in any related criminal or civil proceeding and the
    right to reasonable protection from the offender or any person acting on behalf of the offender from
    harm and threats of harm arising out of the survivor's disclosure of the sexual assault.

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Missouri Crime Victim Rights

 

These rights are automatically afforded to all victims of dangerous felony crimes under §556.061, sexual offenses under Chapter 566, human trafficking under Chapter 566 or domestic assault crimes under §565.072 to §565.076. If you have been a victim of another type of crime, you must request that your rights as a victim be observed. You may do so by contacting the Greene County Prosecuting Attorney’s Victim Witness Office (417) 868-4082.

 

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO:

 

1. Receive information about the crime and decision regarding the filing of charges.

2. Be informed about Crime Victim Compensation, receive claim forms and apply for compensation:
    be informed about financial, emergency and crisis intervention services in your community.

3. Be present and heard at all criminal justice proceedings at which the defendant has such a right.

4. Confer with the prosecutor and be informed in a timely manner of court dates, continuances, and final
    outcomes of all court hearings.

5. Be provided with a secure waiting area during court proceedings

6. Reasonable protection from harm and/or threats.

7. Participate in criminal justice proceedings without being discharged or disciplined by an employer.

8. Be informed of procedures to apply for and receive any witness fees.

9. Have property returned once there is a final outcome of a case, and to have a reasonable explanation
    if it cannot be returned.

10. Appear at sentencing and make an oral and/or written statement.

11. Be notified if the defendant escapes, is released or dies.

12. Be informed about restitution and to ask the defendant to pay restitution.

 

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HOTLINES:

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24 Hour Crisis Hotline – (417) 864-7233 (SAFE)

Child Abuse Hotline – (800) 392-3738

Elder Abuse Hotline – (800) 392-0210

National Domestic Violence Hotline – (800) 799 7233

RAINN (Rape and Assault Hotline) – (800) 656-4673

VOID (Victims of Impaired Drivers) – (888) 773-1800

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – (800) 273-TALK

Missouri School Violence – (866) 748-7047

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GENERAL:​

 

Greene County Prosecuting Attorney’s Victim Witness Office – (417) 868-4082

Greene County Family Justice Center – (417) 874-2600

Missouri Crime Victims' Compensation – (800) 347-6881

MOVANS (Missouri Victim's Automated Notification System) – (866) 566-8267

Missouri Department of Corrections, Victim Services – (573) 526-8267

Legal Services of Southern Missouri – (800) 444-4863

MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) – (573) 636-2460

Social Security Administration – (800) 772-1213

Vinelink – vinelink.com

Casenet – courts.mo.gov/casenet

Missouri Office of Prosecution Services – prosecutors.mo.gov

Missouri Attorney General – ago.mo.gov

Missouri Department of Public Safety – dps.mo.gov

Missouri Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence – mocadsv.org

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