Published: August 23, 2008 10:57 pm         

A warning for crime victims

• New system issues notification when criminals scheduled to be released from incarceration

Victims of crime in Payne County have a new resource for information they need to stay safe. Victim Information and Notification Everyday, or VINE, is in use by the Payne County Sheriff’s Office.

VINE is a computer program that downloads the custody status of people incarcerated in Oklahoma. The information is then available via the Internet or through phone calls.

“This is a free public service provided through grant funds from the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office in conjunction with county sheriffs throughout the state,” said Payne County Sheriff Noel Bagwell. “It provides timely and reliable information about the custody status of offenders in the state’s county jails and Department of Corrections. It is anticipated in the future all county jails will be a part of this program.”

Those who wish to use VINE register at www.vinelink.com or by calling (877) 654-8463. They additionally provide the name of the offender they are interested in tracking and that offender’s current detention location. Victims can provide phone numbers, fax numbers, e-mail addresses, mailing information or TTY information.

“As it pertains to county jails, when the offender bonds out, is released or escapes the VINE system automatically calls those who have registered for notification for that offender,” added Bagwell. “It operates 24-hours a day and calls victims anytime day or night.”

Each person who registers for the system picks their own PIN number. VINE keeps calling until the correct PIN number is entered. This assures the system that the correct person has been contacted and acknowledges the notification.

“This is especially valuable to victims of violent crimes like domestic violence who fear the release of their offender,” said Bagwell. “By registering for VINE, they are notified when their offender is released. This gives them time to seek the safety of a shelter.”

VINE works much the same way for the Department of Corrections. Interested parties register the information and when their inmate is released, transferred to another prison facility or escapes, the notification calls and e-mails begin.

“VINE communicates in near real-time with our booking system and downloads information every 15 minutes or so,” added Bagwell. “It is also important to note that those who register are anonymous. Other registrants cannot view or be told the names of others who are registered.”

Payne County deputies are carrying brochures about VINE, which include instructions on how to register. Bagwell said he is providing information to all law enforcement agencies in the county so officers on the streets can get information to victims at initial contact.

The second component of VINE, OKVINE Protective Order, will soon be online and in place in Payne County. Court Clerk Lisa Lambert and her staff have been trained and are participating in the protective order program.

They are awaiting computer software interlink from the Attorney General in order to start that program.

This will enable people who file for and receive emergency protective orders from the court to register and be notified of when the protective order has been served on the offender.

“EPOs are not enforceable until they are served to the offender,” Bagwell said. “It is not unusual for deputies to serve papers like this after normal business hours. Until now, victims had to wait until the following business day to check and see if their offender had been served — now they are notified 24-hours a day.”

For information, call the Payne County Sheriff’s Office at (405) 372-4522 or toll-free at (877) OK4-VINE.

Information is also available at www.vinelink.com.

     

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