A Missouri 2254 Habeas Corpus Petition is a legal document used to challenge the legality of a conviction or sentence imposed by a criminal court in the state of Missouri. It is typically filed by an incarcerated individual in an effort to have their conviction or sentence overturned or modified. The petition is filed with the court that imposed the conviction or sentence and the respondent is the state or other party responsible for the conviction or sentence. There are two main types of Missouri 2254 Habeas Corpus Petition: a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus and a Motion to Vacate or Set Aside Sentence. The Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus is used to challenge the legality or constitutionality of a conviction or sentence on the grounds that the individual's rights were violated during the proceedings or that the conviction or sentence was imposed unlawfully. The Motion to Vacate or Set Aside Sentence is used to challenge a conviction or sentence on the grounds that the individual was denied effective assistance of counsel or was otherwise wrongly convicted or sentenced.