MO HB2127

Allows law enforcement officers to arrest respondents for violating orders of protection without a warrant, whether or not the violation occurred in the officer's presence.

Establishes mandatory jail time for second violations of full orders of protection involving physical contact, violence, or threats of violence within five years; third or subsequent violations become class D felonies with mandatory jail time.

Expands the definition of violations subject to penalties to include ex parte orders of protection for children and clarifies that full orders of protection for children carry the same enforcement penalties as adult protective orders.

Requires courts to retain jurisdiction over all orders of protection issued under the chapter for their entire duration and permits courts to schedule compliance review hearings to monitor respondent compliance.

Creates criminal contempt penalties for willful violations of protective orders enforceable as criminal contempt of court, with evidence of prior violations heard outside the jury's presence before sentencing.