When an offender is arrested, they get booked into a local jail system. For many victims, not knowing where the offender is can make them feel lost and afraid. VINElink, run by Appriss Insights, helps to alleviate this problem. By tracking offenders through their local court case, and until they enter a state-run prison facility, VINElink ensures victims remain in control of their feelings - and remain in-the-know about their court case.
A Couple of Notes About Vine:
Not all offenders qualify for Vine tracking: If your offender is a juvenile, their records are protected, so VINE can’t access their location. The same goes for offenders who’ve been remanded to hospitals.
Once an offender has been sentenced, Vine no longer tracks them: Instead, the state Department of Corrections does the tracking to coincide with their release notification programs. For Virginia, visit the DOC’s Victim Notification Program webpage for more information.
Sometimes, offenders being transported will show up as ‘released.’ If the local jail flags the offender as ‘released’ whenever they are transported to different courts, then VINE will send a notification that might look like the offender has been released. However, it’s important for victims to contact their advocate to find out what the situation is.
Here are some ways VINElink empowers victims of crime!
1. It’s Anonymous
Victims don’t have to worry about anyone knowing they looked up an offender’s status. Using unique security features, VINElink doesn’t send anyone notifications that someone looked up an offender’s name or location. Victims can safely and securely receive information about the offenders without fearing someone will know the circumstances surrounding the crime.
2. Victims Can Search for Services
VINElink has a section of their site dedicated to helping victims find resources near them. With search filtering categories such as ‘Crisis Services’ or ‘Financial Assistance,’ victims can search by zipcode or jurisdiction to find the organizations near them that provide the exact services they need.
3. Notifications Happen Everyday
The ‘VINE’ in VINElink literally stands for ‘Victim Information and Notification Everyday.’ Every 24 hours, the Vine system receives updated information about offenders’ whereabouts within the local jail circuit. The system then sends out notifications to victims who have signed up to receive notifications (phone, text or email) about that particular offender. For many victims, getting that daily reminder that their offender is behind bars gives them peace of mind to go about their daily lives.
4. It’s Free
Who doesn’t love free services? Thanks to funds made available through grants and other resources, VINElink is able to provide its services free of charge. Victims don’t have to pay to keep track of their offenders.
5. Victims Can Talk to Someone
The CustomerFirst Center, VINElink’s customer service department, is available 24/7, 365 days a year to answer calls from victims about Vine’s services and security features. It’s completely anonymous, and they also refer victims to local and national services they can access. They prioritize safety and hegemony for victims, making sure victims understand they can make their own choices.
Programs like VINElink assist victims in their healing journey. When victims feel safe, they can focus on seeking counseling and moving on from the trauma of victimization.