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Missouri alters program for abuse victims due to St. Louis County court order

Rici Hoffarth | St. Louis Public Radio

About 1,500 people are being asked to reapply for a Missouri program that shields the addresses of abuse victims after a St. Louis County judge ordered a woman to reveal her home address because of a flaw in the application process.

The Safe at Home program lets victims of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, human trafficking or stalking keep their addresses confidential by routing mail through a post office box run by the secretary of state's office

St. Louis County Circuit Judge Sandra Farragut-Hemphill recently ordered one participant to reveal her actual address as part of a divorce case. The judge said the application failed to include a sworn statement about the abuse as required by Missouri law.

The Missouri Secretary of State's office said Thursday that participants have been sent new forms that include a sworn statement.