46-6-602. Notice of rights to victim in partner or family member assault. Whenever a peace officer arrests a person for partner or family member assault, as defined in 45-5-206, or responds to a call in which partner or family member assault is suspected, the officer, outside the presence of the offender, shall advise the victim of the availability of a shelter or other services in the community and give the victim immediate notice of any legal rights and remedies available. The notice must include furnishing the victim with a copy of the following statement:

"The city or county attorney's office can file criminal charges against an offender if the offender committed the offense of partner or family member assault.

In addition to the criminal charges filed by the state of Montana, you are entitled to the following civil remedies:

You may go to court and file a petition requesting any of the following orders for relief:

(1) an order of protection that prohibits the offender from threatening to hurt you or hurting you;

(2) an order of protection that directs the offender to leave your home and prohibits the offender from having any contact with you;

(3) an order of protection that prevents the offender from transferring any property except in the usual course of business;

(4) an order of protection that prohibits the offender from being within 1,500 feet or other appropriate distance of you, any named family member, and your worksite or other specified place;

(5) an order of protection that gives you possession of necessary personal property;

(6) an order of protection that prohibits the offender from possessing or using the firearm used in the assault.

If you file a petition in district court, the district court may order all of the above and may award custody of your minor children to you or to the other parent. The district court may order visitation of your children between the parents. The district court may order the offender to pay support payments to you if the offender has a legal obligation to pay you support payments.

The forms that you need to obtain an order of protection are at _______________. You may call ____________ at ____________ for additional information about an order of protection.

You may file a petition in district court at _____________.

You may be eligible for restitution payments from the offender (the offender would repay you for costs that you have had to pay as a result of the assault) or for crime victims compensation payments (a fund administered by the state of Montana for innocent victims of crime). You may call ____________ at _____________ for additional information about restitution or crime victims compensation.

If a person has been found guilty of partner or family member assault against you or a partner or family member, as defined in 45-5-206, or has been found guilty of stalking or another offense involving bodily harm or the threat of bodily harm against you or a partner or family member, you may choose to keep your residential address off the list of registered voters by contacting the county election administrator at ________________.

The following agencies may be able to give you additional information or emergency help. (List telephone numbers and addresses of agencies other than shelters with secret locations and a brief summary of services that are available.)"

History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 700, L. 1985; Sec. 46-6-422, MCA 1989; redes. 46-6-602 by Code Commissioner, 1991; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 425, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 15, Ch. 350, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 233, L. 1997.