VINE

Victim Information and Notification Everyday

The Colorado VINE system is a service through which victims of crime can use the telephone or Internet to search for information regarding the custody status of their offender and to register to receive telephone and e-mail notification when the offender’s custody status changes. This service is provided to assist victims of crime who have a right to know about their offender’s custody status. VINE is a toll-free, anonymous, automated telephone service that provides victims of crime and the public two important features: INFORMATION and NOTIFICATION.

INFORMATION

For custody information, call VINE and follow the instructions. VINE will quickly tell you whether the offender is still in custody and will also provide the name of the facility where the offender is in custody. Anyone can call VINE to check on an offender’s custody status. Live operator assistance is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

NOTIFICATION

You can choose to register for automated notification of changes that occur in an offender’s custody status. To register, simply enter the telephone number, including area code, where you want to be reached. You will then be asked to enter a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to use during the notification to confirm that the message was received. The PIN is a four-digit number that you choose to stop notification calls from VINE. Entering your correct PIN and pressing the pound (#) key on your telephone is the only way to confirm and stop VINE notification calls. VINE will ask for the PIN when it calls you. If you need to change your phone number or PIN, just call the VINE Service and follow the instructions to update your registration.

To Participate in VINE

To participate in the VINE Service, you can call VINE directly from any touch-tone telephone or go to their website. If your email address or phone number changes, call the VINE toll-free number to register those changes. You will need to press zero to speak with an operator if you are changing your email address.

If your phone is busy or you are not home, the VINE Service will keep trying to reach you every half hour for up to 48 hours. VINE will leave a message on an answering machine, but will continue to call every two hours up to 48 hours, or until a PIN is entered to stop the notification calls. VINE calls automatically when an offender’s custody status changes. Notification calls may come in the middle of the night if an offender escapes or is released. When VINE calls, listen to the entire message, enter your PIN, and press the pound (#) key on your telephone when asked. Entering the PIN and pressing the pound (#) key lets VINE know that you received the call, and will stop the VINE Service from calling you again unless the offender’s custody status changes.

You may register more than one telephone number with VINE. Each registration is separate and requires a PIN. However, you can use the same PIN for each telephone number you enter. DO NOT register a telephone number that rings to a switchboard; it must be a direct line.

The VINE Service is designed to provide you with quick and easy access to offender information/notification and to alert you when an offender’s custody status changes.

The offender will not know you have registered with VINE. All registrations are confidential. If you feel that you may be at risk, take precautions as if the offender has already been released.

Only offenders in Colorado county jails are included in the VINE Service. For more information, call VINE and press zero to speak to an operator.

After conviction of a defendant, and upon your written request, your state or local correctional authorities will notify you of:

• The institution where the person is incarcerated or otherwise being held;
• The projected release date of the person;
• Any release of the person, including furlough work release or community correction, in advance of release;
• Scheduled parole hearing for the person and any changes in hearing schedules;
• Any escape of the person from a private, state or public correctional facility or program;
• The death of the person while in a correctional facility or program.

In addition, upon request of the victim, correctional officials will keep confidential the victim’s or immediate family’s address, phone numbers, places of employment or other personal information.If the defendant in your case is sentenced to the Department of Corrections you have the right to get this information by requesting it in writing. Send a letter to:

DOC Victim Services Unit
Denver Reception & Diagnostic Center
P. O. Box 392004
Denver, CO 80239-8004
1-303-307-2225
or
1-800-886-7688

If you prefer, the Office of the District Attorney has a request form that you may obtain and fill out.

It is your responsibility to keep DOC informed of your current address and phone number(s) at all times.