Victim notification
As the victim of an offense, you are entitled to and may request notification of the offender’s custody status. If you do, you will be notified of parole hearings, hearing results, release to the community, escape and death.
RSMo. 595.209 ensures that the victim receives notification and is invited to participate in specific matters pertaining to that offender in the custody of the Missouri Department of Corrections.
Definition of a victim
Per RSMo. 595.209: A victim is, "a natural person who suffers direct or threatened physical, emotional or financial harm, as the result of the commission or attempted commission of a crime. The term victim also includes the family members of a minor, incompetent or a homicide victim."
Per RSMo. 595.209: A family member is, "a spouse, child, sibling, parent, grandparent or legal guardian of a victim."
Victim Notification Request Form
In order to be notified of parole hearings, hearing results, release to the community, escape or death you can fill out a
and submit it to the Office of Victim Services.
Victim rights
During the parole hearing process, a victim has certain rights:
- You may attend the hearing and present information regarding parole consideration.
- At the hearing, you may give a statement to the hearing panel in the presence of the offender or without the offender present.
- If you choose not to have the offender present during your statement, you have the option to leave without seeing the offender, or stay and listen to the offender’s portion of the hearing.
- You may request a partition between you and the offender.
- You may call, write, or send a video/audio statement on disc or email an electronic file to the Board rather than attend the hearing.
- You may have a personal meeting with a Board Member at the Division of Probation and Parole’s Central Office located in Jefferson City.
It is your responsibility to inform the Office of Victim Services of any changes in your address or notification information to ensure timely notifications continue to be provided.
Attending a parole hearing
Please contact the Office of Victim Services if you want to attend a parole hearing. If you choose to attend a hearing, you will have to travel to the institution at which the offender is incarcerated at your own expense. Directions to the institution will be provided, or you can visit Adult Institution Facility Addresses for directions to the department's institutions.
Institutional security measures require that you bring a photo ID (e.g. driver’s license) to the hearing. Be advised, you are entering a prison and may be subject to a security search by institutional staff. If you require special accommodations, please contact the office in advance.
You will be met by institutional parole staff who will explain the hearing procedure and answer any questions you may have following the hearing.
The information you provide to the Board is important and will help determine whether an offender will be released on parole, when the release will occur, and the type of supervision required upon release. You may request that special conditions be placed on the offender’s release orders, such as no contact with victims or family members of the victim.
Questions or concerns?
If you have questions, please feel free to contact the Office of Victim Services at 573-526-6516 or email us at: victims@doc.mo.gov. You can also visit the Office of Victims Services on the Department of Corrections website.
To send information to the Office of Victim Services, please use the following address:
Office of Victim Services
3400 Knipp Drive
Jefferson City, MO 65109
Other victim services contact information:
MCADSV
Missouri Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
573-634-4161
MOVA Network
Missouri Victim Assistance Network
800-698-9199
MADD Mothers Against Drunk Driving
800-746-MADD
800-736-6233
Crime Victims Compensation Fund
800-347-6881
Missouri Department of Public Safety
Crime Victim Services Unit
866-334-6682
573-751-5878
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