The Division of Probation and Parole began providing notification of parole hearings to victims of crime and inviting their participation in parole hearings in 1984, eight years before the Victim’s Rights Constitutional Amendment was passed by an 87% majority of voters in 1991.

 In 1993, the late Governor Mel Carnahan signed the supporting Crime Victim’s Rights legislation and the Department of Corrections responded by creating the Office of Victim Services and the position of the Victim Service Coordinator to oversee and coordinate the department’s services to victims.

 In 1997, the Office of Victim Services was expanded to include staff to provide advocacy, referral services, and notification of changes in an offender’s status to victims of crime. To ensure victims receive accurate, timely information the department implemented an automated notification system known as VINE.

 The department is now a part of the statewide MOVANN system, which enables victims to call a toll-free number to obtain information about offenders and register to receive notification of changes in the offender’s status.