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Statewide victim assistance and notification 24 hours a day.

A Message from the Sheriffs of New York
Many victims live in fear that the criminal offender who victimized them may someday return to do so again. For these victims and their families and friends, it is important to know if that offender is incarcerated in a correctional facility - and to know if and when that offender is released from custody.

It has often been difficult for a victim to obtain timely and accurate information about an offender's custody status - information so important to the victim's peace of mind. That is why the Sheriffs across the State of New York are pleased to implement the Sheriffs' VICTIM HOTLINE. Now with just one toll-free phone call, a citizen can immediately learn the custody status of any offender housed in any of New York's county jails or other county correctional facilities.

In addition to providing custody status information to callers, the Sheriffs' VICTIM HOTLINE also has an automatic notification feature. Any victim may register with the Sheriffs' VICTIM HOTLINE to be automatically notified if an offender's custody status should change. This feature eliminates the need for a victim to constantly call the Sheriffs' VICTIM HOTLINE to verify the offender's status.

DO NOT DEPEND SOLELY ON THE SHERIFFS' VICTIM HOTLINE, OR ANY OTHER SINGLE PROGRAM, FOR YOUR PROTECTION. MAKE THE NEW YORK SHERIFFS' VICTIM HOTLINE PART OF YOUR SAFETY PLAN.

NOTE:Upcoming Conference
Friday, April 18th, 2008
The Second Annual New York Statewide Conference on VINE.
Hosted by: The New York State Sheriffs’ Association Institute, Inc.
For more information on the program, registration and hotel accommodations,
please contact Irene Colwill.

Download the VINE conference Registration Form

Pat Byron is presented with a recognition award for victim advocacy from Yates County
Sheriff Ronald Spike

First Annual New York Statewide Conference on VINE

National crime victims’ icon Pat Byron headed an outstanding group of presenters at the Sheriffs’ Institute’s First Annual New York Statewide Conference on VINE.

VINE is the system that allows crime victims to be notified when their offender is released from incarceration. It’s a system that has not only saved lives and prevented follow-up crimes, but most importantly, gives crime victims peace of mind by assuring them that their attackers are, indeed, incarcerated.

In New York State, the VINE program is administered and promoted by a partnership between New York City Department of Correction, New York State Correctional Services and the Sheriffs’ Institute. Every individual incarcerated in the State of New York is in the VINE system and their status is accessible to crime victims and other parties of interest 24 hours a day.

The VINE system was born out of the murder of Mary Byron. Mary broke up with her boyfriend. His reaction was to assault and rape her. He was arrested and jailed. The Byrons feared that upon his release he would bring further harm to Mary. They begged the authorities to notify them if the ex-boy friend was released from jail. They wanted to make sure Mary was protected. He made bail and was released. The Byrons weren’t notified. An unsuspecting Mary was murdered as she left work.

John and Pat Byron began a crusade to establish a system where by crime victims could learn when their attackers were released from incarceration. In addition, they advocated that such a system would allow the crime victim to call in and reassure himself or herself that the offenders were still incarcerated.

“Having Pat Byron at our first New York State VINE Conference is like having Bill Gates at a computer conference,” stated Edmund Wutzer, Director of the Sheriffs’ Institute’s VINE Program. “She and her husband, in honor of their daughter, have made victim notification a reality not only in New York State, but throughout the United States.”

What will the New York Sheriffs' VICTIM HOTLINE do for me?
The New York Sheriffs' VICTIM HOTLINE will tell you if an offender is in jail or prison in the State of New York and will give you other important custody information. The VICTIM HOTLINE will also let you leave a phone number where you want to be notified when that offender is released, transferred, or escapes.

What do I need to do?

Call 1-888-846-3469 from a touch-tone phone and follow the directions. The VICTIM HOTLINE will tell you the custody status of the offender.
If the offender is in custody, you can leave a phone number where you want to be notified when there is a change in the offender's custody status. Enter the area code and phone number, followed by the pound (#) key.
When the VICTIM HOTLINE asks, make up and enter a four-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) code that will be easy for you to remember. The New York Sheriffs' VICTIM HOTLINE will ask for the PIN code when it calls you.
When the New York Sheriffs' VICTIM HOTLINE calls, listen to the message, then enter you PIN when asked. Entering the PIN lets the VICTIM HOTLINE know that you got the call.

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New York State Sheriffs' Association Institute, Inc. • 27 Elk Street • Albany, NY 12207 • 518 434-9091