Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $500,000)
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 Wisconsin Department of Corrections (WI DOC) will use its FY 2009 SAVIN award to enhance the Wisconsin Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) system by incorporating a statewide Protective Order Notification system. This system will also serve law enforcement, court officials, prosecutors, and victim advocates by providing them with access to protective order notification information to enable them to assist victims and hold offenders accountable.
The Protective Order Notification system will provide petitioners with automated notification of the service and status of restraining orders. The period of time immediately following the service of a restraining order can be particularly dangerous for the petitioning victim. The respondent may react violently, placing the victim and those nearby at great risk for harm. Without a protective order notification system, victims in Wisconsin are likely to be unaware of when the service took place as it may take days or even weeks before a respondent can be located and served with the restraining order. Because victims have not received notification, they may not have been able to execute a personal safety plan.
With the SAVIN award, WI DOC will provide a system that will create immediate, automated notifications, allowing victims to make informed decisions about their safety. Victims will be able to choose to receive notifications via phone or e-mail and will also be able to reach around the clock live operator assistance.
The Protective Order Notification system will also provide Wisconsin criminal justice professionals with secure access to restraining order conditions, expiration information, and other order details through a dedicated toll-free telephone line and website. Law enforcement will no longer have to depend on court clerks or dispatch personnel for this information, such as for use in investigations or in charging offenders who violate a protective order.
WI DOC will also use this award to complete the implementation of the SAVIN system in Wisconsin. County jails are being charged a fee by their vendor for connecting to the SAVIN system, and this award will be used to pay the vendor fees.
CA/NCF