Pennsylvania - Expansion SAVIN IV

The Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification (SAVIN) program (authorized by Pub.L. 111-8, and guided in part by the general principles of 42 U.S.C. §10603e) ensures victims of crime receive accurate and timely information regarding the status of offenders and events related to their cases. 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 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will utilize its FY2009 Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification (SAVIN) award to enhance its notification system. The Commonwealth's goal is to allow victims a one time register with a single point of access to remain informed of the offender's status while being processed through in different phases of courts, corrections, and probation. The SAVIN program presently provides notifications to victims of the judicial proceedings for the 85,000 inmates in 88 State and county correctional facilities, for approximately 360,000 parolees, and for more than 300,000 active adult criminal court cases. Grant funds will be used to enhance the system by making notifications available in Spanish and by establishing a Statewide Victim Services Hotline. The grant will also provide for funding for counties to offset the costs of participating in the program. The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) will maintain its role of grant recipient and managing agency with responsibility for the oversight of the project. The PCCD will work with the current SAVIN Governance Committee to ensure consistency for registrations and notifications, and economies through coordination of project activities. The PCCD will look to the Victims Services Advisory Committee and the Criminal Justice Advisory Committee to assist in policy and governance issues. The PCCD will approve subgrantees to oversee the implementation and operation of PA Court Notification Project. Finally, PCCD will continue to monitor the program as it moves beyond the grant period into sustainment.

CA/NCF