‘Is It Legal To…?’: Domestic violence, order of protection

October was National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, acknowledging survivors of domestic violence and providing resources. On average, nearly 20 people are physically abused by an intimate partner in the U.S. every minute – more than 10 million people a year, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. This makes it statistically likely that everyone knows a domestic violence victim and/or abuser.

The Missouri Bar’s recent “Is It Legal To…?” podcast episode discusses one of the most important legal tools available to survivors of domestic violence – orders of protection. Kelly Martinez, legal director of the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence, and Katie Wessling, managing lawyer for the Crime Victim Center in St. Louis, talk about the ins-and-outs of filing for orders of protection and what that means for all parties involved.

Listen to the new episode at https://soundcloud.com/user-784534365/is-it-legal-to-domestic-violenceorder-of-protection or by clicking the play button below.

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 800-799-7233, texting “START” to 88788, or live chatting with a representative at TheHotline.org. All services are free, confidential, and available 24/7.

“Is It Legal To…?” is produced by The Missouri Bar, with Communications Director Farrah Fite and veteran Missourinet reporter Bob Priddy as the hosts. To listen to more episodes, visit MissouriLawyersHelp.org/IsItLegalTo. 

Do you have a legal topic you would like discussed? Do you want to be a guest on an upcoming podcast episode? Email Fite at ffite@mobar.org.