Title: Developing and Enhancing Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification (SAVIN)

The Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification (SAVIN) program ensures victims of crime receive accurate and timely information regarding the status of offenders and events related to the case. Through SAVIN, victims are able to participate in the judicial process and make sound decisions to protect themselves from further victimization while maintaining total anonymity. This information-sharing capability is also available to courts, corrections, and law enforcement officials.

The State of South Carolina (SOSC) has researched and concluded that there is a need for greater collaboration across justice systems, geographic jurisdictions, and agencies responsible for implementing victims' rights. Therefore, SOSC plans to utilize grant funds to manage the implementation of a SAVIN program.

The South Carolina SAVIN system will be comprised of a near real-time data collection network, a central data processing facility, a network monitoring/management capability, and a two-way communication capability. The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDOC) will serve as grant recipient and provide oversight of the project. Participating agencies will include the 49 local county facilities that house offenders, SCDOC, and the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services (SCDPPS). All participants will provide resources and participate in the selection of the vendor that will implement and operate the SAVIN for the life of the grant.

In South Carolina, the existing electronic offender management systems are responsible for tracking transactions related to offenders' custody statuses. To access this data, the SAVIN vendor will be required to develop and deploy software adapters for each of the electronic offender management systems that monitor and capture the transactions flowing through these systems and forward those transactions to the central data processing and notification facility. The SAVIN vendor will ensure that these adapters adhere to the Global Justice XML Data Model (GJXDM). The local agencies will provide appropriate communication bandwidth to move these data transactions from the local South Carolina agencies to the SAVIN vendor's facility.

The South Carolina SAVIN system will require extensive data and network management and monitoring to ensure that all required data is being received accurately. The vendor will ensure that South Carolina SAVIN allows victims to access offender information via a public website or toll-free number. Callers to the phone line will be able to use an automated service or to speak to a live operator on a 24/7 basis. Victims can register for notification by contacting the local county facility, the SCDOC, or the SCDPPPS. Once a victim is registered, the SAVIN program will generate automated outbound telephone notifications as well as email notification and automated written letters on the participating agency's letterhead. South Carolina SAVIN will also have a TDD capability for hearing impaired victims. All services will be made available in English and Spanish.

CA/NCF