Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2008, $100,000)
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 their 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.
Ohio's current statewide automated victim notification system, called VINE, is a toll-free (24-7), anonymous telephone and email service that provides victims of crime two important features: information and notification on the custody status of offenders within the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (DRC) and county jails. The State of Ohio does not have state legislation designating authority to manage and implement VINE. Ohio's VINE has been in existence since 1998; the Attorney General's Office assumed oversight of VINE by working in partnership with the DRC, Ohio Department of Youth Services, and the Buckeye Sheriff's Association. Appriss, Inc. (based in Kentucky) is Ohio's current VINE vendor. VINE is currently housed within the Attorney General's Office of Victim Services.
The State of Ohio will utilize the 2008 SAVIN grant to supplement current VINE services by adding a 'parole and probation' module. A consultant will be hired to develop the necessary interface to connect the DRC's system with the necessary module. In addition, two data servers will be procured and housed within the DRC to store a large number of data elements contained in offender status changes. Grant funds will be utilized to pay for consultant services to design and develop applications (data enhancements, interfaces, etc.) for data exchange between the DRC and certified vendor; annual fees for VINE parole event notification; and pay for annual contractual service fees for VINE parole event notifications.
CA/NCF