VICTIM SERVICES BRANCH KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
VICTIM SERVICES BRANCH (VSB) SERVICES Management of the KY VINE Services Assistance regarding offender status Assistance to victims regarding harassment from an offender Victim restitution assistance Processing of written notification request Prepare and guide victims through execution process Process Victim Impact Statements and help with victim hearings Statewide training for Criminal Justice Professionals
1996 Intricate part of the Kentucky Department of Corrections 2004 Reorganized with a deeper focus on victims Unlimited The need for assistance does not stop once an offender has been sentenced, in fact it continues throughout an offender s incarceration. We are committed to assisting victims and survivors through the duration of the offender s incarceration and supervision.
VICTIM DEFINED Per KRS 421.500 (1) As used in KRS 421.500 to 421.575, "victim" means an individual who suffers direct or threatened physical, financial, or emotional harm as a result of the commission of a crime classified as stalking, unlawful imprisonment, use of a minor in a sexual performance, unlawful transaction with a minor in the first degree, terroristic threatening, menacing, harassing communications, intimidating a witness, criminal homicide, robbery, rape, assault, sodomy, kidnapping, burglary in the first or second degree, sexual abuse, wanton endangerment, criminal abuse, or incest. If the victim is a minor or legally incapacitated, "victim" means a parent, guardian, custodian or court appointed special advocate. (a) If the victim is deceased and the relation is not the defendant, the following relations shall be designated as "victim" for the purpose of exercising those rights contained in KRS 421.500 to 421.575: 1. The spouse; 2. An adult child if subparagraph 1. of this paragraph does not apply; 3. A parent if subparagraphs 1. and 2. of this paragraph do not apply; 4. A sibling if subparagraphs 1. to 3. of this paragraph do not apply; and 5. A grandparent if subparagraphs 1. to 4. of this paragraph do not apply.
WHAT IS VINE? VINE is a free, anonymous, computer based service that provides victims and concerned citizens with two important services: information and notification.
VINE HISTORY Mary Francis Byron December 6, 1972 December 6, 1993
VINE FACTS Data collected every 15 minutes from County jails and every 1 hour from DOC Free Services accessibly by phone, website and mobile app VINE BY PHOKENTUCKYNE 800-511- 1670 ONLINE www.vinel ink.com MOBILE APP VINEmobile 24/7/365 Access Operator support for 195 languages User notifications by phone, email or text Protective Order and Court notifications available in some states Calls every 30 minutes until answered Calls confirmed with PIN Calls attempt to repeat for a 24 hour period without PIN entry
Offender Status Custody Information Notifications Courts Felony Misdemeanor Protective Orders Notifications Service and Attempt to purchase a firearm Hearing Reminders
Kentucky VINE Services Brochure
VINE Across the Nation STATES DEPTS. OF CORRECTIONS
2017VINE STATISTICS (KENTUCKY) TOTAL NEW REGISTRATIONS NOTIFICATIONS DELIVERED OFFENDER & CASE SEARCHES INBOUND PHONE CALLS
VINE INCLUDES..
VINE INCLUDES..
VINELINK.COM
OFFENDER STATUS NOTIFICATION TYPES General Release Escape Transfers DOC Home Incarceration Return to Custody Advance Release Notice Court Order Release Mandatory Re Entry Supervision Furlough Parole Eligibility Death Shock Probation Parole
VINE COURTS
VINE VPO
WHO BENEFITS FROM USING VINE Victims Criminal Justice Service Providers Public Safety Safety Safety Safety Peace of mind Information Information Information Planning Information Knowledge Empowerment Investigation Tracking Good PR Knowledge Time Savings Involved Staffing Family Friends Neighbors Businesses Schools
VINE INFORMATION HELPS OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PARTNERS
WRITTEN NOTIFICATION
KRS 197.170 197.170 Release of prisoner Parties to be notified Means of providing notice (a) The wardens of the state penitentiaries upon the release of any prisoner or inmate from confinement shall immediately notify.. 3. Any victim, as defined in KRS 421.500, who has requested that he or she be notified on release of a particular inmate who victimized him or her and who has forwarded a current address and telephone number to the Department of Corrections. (b) The notice shall give the residence of the person released and the name of the person to whom he or she was released. The provisions of KRS Chapter 202A notwithstanding, the Department of Corrections may release to the public the information that a petition to involuntarily hospitalize a prisoner has been filed concerning any inmate who is scheduled to be released from custody.
NOTICE OF RELEASE REQUEST Victims as defined by KRS 421.500 must request in writing or complete the form. The form can be found at www.corrections.ky.gov Form can also be provided by the Victim Services Branch
VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT Kentucky Parole Board
VICTIM HEARINGS Victim Hearings are coordinated with the parole board Held on Monday s at the Justice building, Frankfort.
Victims Need to Feel Safe Victims' Need To Express Their Emotions Victims' Need To Know What Comes Next After Their Offenders Sentencing or Release What you can do: Listen Carefully Spend time with the victim Offer your assistance, even if they haven t asked for help Give them time Don t take their anger or other feelings personally Don t tell them they are Lucky it wasn t worse traumatized people are not consoled by such statements Tell them that you are sorry such an event has occurred to them Get their information and forward to our office so we can assist them through the offender s incarceration period
Contact Information Alexis Williams Hall Program Manager Cristela Scanlon Victim Advocate III Charlotte Ellis Victim Advocate III Kim Crews Victim Advocate III KY DOC Victim Services Branch 1-877-687-6818 ONLINE www.correctionsky.gov/victim services