Program keeps victims informed about offender whereabouts, other important information

COLUMBIA - The S.C. Department of Corrections is announcing that the Statewide Victim Information and Notification service (SAVIN) is now operational in 23 of the state’s detention centers and prison work camps.

“This system will assist in providing victims of crime more control over how and when they receive vital information regarding their offender’s custody status,” said Stephanie Cassavaugh, program manager for the SAVIN Program.  “Knowing that they will receive a call automatically when an offender is being released from jail or prison can help a crime victim feel more in control and plan for their own safety.”

The SAVIN service allows users to confirm that an offender is in jail or prison and provides important custody status information.  The service also allows crime victims to register to receive notifications automatically by phone and email when there are specified changes in the custody status of an offender.  The service is available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week in both English and Spanish.

With just over half of the state’s county detention centers online, as of June 8, 2009, nearly 1,500 people have called the toll-free line of 1.866.SC SAVIN; 35,324 hits have been made to the SC SAVIN website at:  www.vinelink.com; over 2,400 victims have registered for automated notification; and nearly 31,000 automated phone calls have been made to crime victims in South Carolina.

South Carolina SAVIN was made possible by a grant from the federal Bureau of Justice Assistance.  

The S.C. Department of Corrections serves as the lead agency in this effort. Its automated victim information and notification system has been operating successfully since 2001 and will transition to become part of SAVIN later this year.  Full implementation of the SAVIN service is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2009 and will also include county facilities and the S.C. Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services.