KANSAS CITY, March 10, 2005-The Department of Public Safety announces Kansas City area officers are in training this week on the Missouri Victim Automated Notification System (MoVANS) to protect crime victims from their attackers.

MoVANS is a database that tracks offenders' custody and court dates and notifies crime victims when there is a change in their offender's custody status. The automated system empowers crime victims with the facts of their case and eliminates paperwork and guesswork to receive pertinent information about their attacker and the resources to obtain the information.

MoVANS is a unique program, requiring only a phone and the proper spelling of the offender's name to quickly and anonymously receive needed information. The system uses a toll-free number, 1-866-5-MOVANS, and saves the state, county and local government money by reducing the number of phone calls to correction employees, paperwork, and postage to mail information. Callers can also register to be notified of upcoming court dates involving their case.

Utilizing the system will also help local authorities comply with Missouri law, which states all victims of violent crime have the right to know the status-including court appearances, custody information, release and escape-of their attacker.

The Platte and Bates County Sheriff Departments, the Kansas City Police Department and local juvenile law officers are in training this week learning the tools and resources of MoVANS to better protect crime victims against their assailants. As training continues across the state, St. Louis and Springfield areas will receive the next round of training in the coming months.

MOVANS TRAINING
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Since its inception in July 2003, the MoVANS program has come a long way from receiving 5,705 total calls its first year to receiving 11,507 calls in just the past eight months. Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt applauds the cost-saving automated program and training for the system around the state.

"The more city and county law enforcement agencies are trained on the use of this system, the greater the access victims will have to the information they deserve," Blunt said. "I commend the officers for utilizing the tools and resources developed to help keep violent offenders off our streets."