Missouri Laws 491.600 – Courts with criminal jurisdiction may issue orders to protect witness or ..
Any court with jurisdiction over any criminal matter may, in its discretion, upon substantial evidence, which may include hearsay, that intimidation or dissuading of any person who is a victim or who is a witness has occurred or is reasonably likely to occur, issue orders including but not limited to the following:
(1) An order that a defendant not engage in activity as defined by section 575.270 and maintain a prescribed geographic distance from a witness or victim;
Terms Used In Missouri Laws 491.600
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- following: when used by way of reference to any section of the statutes, mean the section next preceding or next following that in which the reference is made, unless some other section is expressly designated in the reference. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- Hearsay: Statements by a witness who did not see or hear the incident in question but heard about it from someone else. Hearsay is usually not admissible as evidence in court.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Missouri Laws 1.020
(2) An order that a person before the court other than a defendant, including but not limited to a subpoenaed witness or other person entering the courtroom of said court, not engage in activity as defined by section 575.270, and maintain a prescribed geographic distance from a witness or victim;
(3) An order that any person described in subdivision (1) or (2) of this section have no connection whatsoever with any specified witness or any victim, except through an attorney under such reasonable restrictions as the court may impose.