NCJ Number
185640
Date Published
2000
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This report on New York State's Victim Notification Program indicates that, as of December 31, 1999, 5,766 inmates had at least one victim notification request on file, the highest number since the Department of Correctional Services began providing this service per legislative mandate in 1994.
Abstract
Of the 5,766 inmates with victim notifications on file, 4,821 or 84 percent were committed for violent felony offenses. As of December 31, 1999, 12.7 percent of violent felons under custody had at least one victim notification request on file, the highest percentage of such felons since the victim notification service was first offered in 1994. Further, 222 female offenders had victim notifications on file, including 106 committed for violent felony offenses. Over half of the offenders under custody on December 31, 1999, with victim notification requests were from the five counties of New York City, while nearly 20 percent were from upstate urban counties. During 1999, the Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) system received 58,382 inquiries, and 1,438 registered with VINE for telephone notification of an offender's release. The legislative history of New York State's Victim Notification Program is briefly reviewed. Appendixes include a New York State Directive dealing with Notification to Victim of Inmate Release or Damages Award and related forms. 6 tables