Virginia Launches Statewide Criminal Tracking System

Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine today announced that a criminal tracking and victim notification system used in Virginia prisons will be expanded to include offenders held in local jails. VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) keeps crime victims informed about the custody and court status of offenders over the telephone, through the Internet, or by e-mail. The initiative, announced today in an event at the Fairfax County jail complex, is a partnership between the commonwealth, the Virginia Sheriffs' Association (VSA), and the Virginia Community Policing Institute (VCPI).

Over the next two and a half years, the expanded service will be implemented in all of the commonwealth's city, county and regional prisons and jails. The VSA received a grant from the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance of $1.25 million to fund the expansion.

"The VINE service is one of the nation's largest and most successful e-government programs, providing crime victims and other citizens with free, updated offender information 24 hours every day," Kaine said. "This tracking system provides additional peace of mind to those who have been victimized by criminals, and law enforcement officials tell us it can be an invaluable tool in serving and protecting our people."

Users of VINE may call a toll-free number day or night to find out if an offender is in jail, and register by phone to be notified when an offender is released, transferred, or escapes.

Appriss Inc., based in Louisville, Kentucky, created VINE, and has been contracted by the VSA to implement the program in Virginia. Appriss currently offers VINE to Virginia's Department of Corrections.