2009 News
January 27, 2009
Victim Notification System Launched in Bucks County
Bucks County Commissioners Charles H. Martin and Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, along with District Attorney Michelle Henry and Director of Corrections Harris Gubernick, today announced the launch
of Pennsylvania’s automated victim notification system. Known as PA SAVIN (Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification), the system will help victims of crime track the status of an offender housed at the county correctional facility.
“Crime victims deserve all the information and support that we can provide,” said Commissioner Martin, “This new system will allow a victim to be in control, instead of perpetuating the cycle of victimization.” He lauded the leadership shown by Henry and Gubernick that has made this program a reality for the people of Bucks County.
District Attorney Henry stated that many inmates are transferred county to county and the ability to provide PA SAVIN’s service both locally and across county lines will best provide victims, their families and the community at-large an important and complete empowerment tool in the fight against crime.
“The DA’s office is proud to be part of this collaborative effort to provide victims of crime and their circles of support with this ground-breaking notification service, and to help complete the PA SAVIN network’s availability in the region,” noted Henry.
The implementation of PA SAVIN is a joint project of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Institute (PDAI) and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). Pennsylvania is one of 13 states to receive funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) within the U.S. Department of Justice to launch a statewide program.
The county-based PA SAVIN system complements an existing system operated by the state Office of Victim Advocate that provides notification to crime victims regarding offenders within the state Department of Corrections and the state Board of Probation and Parole.
Director of Corrections Gubernick affirmed, “Our participation with PA SAVIN provides a powerful, life-saving tool to empower victims of crime. It also enhances the counseling and outreach that victim advocates, such as NOVA and a Women’s Place, already make available.”
The county’s participation in PA SAVIN was supported at the press conference by the attendance of Barbara Clark, executive director of NOVA (Network of Victims Assistance).
Also joining the commissioners, DA and corrections director were the county’s new President Judge Susan Devlin Scott, and representatives from Reps. Chuck McIlhenny and Bernie O’Neill’s offices. To conclude the gathering, PDAI representative Andrea Warner provided a live demonstration of registering with the system, and played a sample phone call.
The automated network allows Pennsylvania residents to receive real-time information about the custody status of offenders. It is easy to register and be notified of an offender’s custody status, either from a county or state facility, by telephone or e-mail, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Users can call a toll free number 1-866-972-7284 for live, operator assistance. The operators can assist victims who need help obtaining offender information or registering for notification. You can also register online at www.pacrimevictims.state.pa.us. Technical support professionals monitor and maintain the networks to ensure high reliability and availability of this life-saving service, which is free to the public.
PDAI and PCCD have selected Appriss®, Inc., a Kentucky-based technology company, to implement the SAVIN service. Appriss® launched the first victim notification service in 1994, following the murder of Mary Byron, a 21 year old, who was shot to death by a violent ex-boyfriend; the ex-boyfriend had been released from jail on rape charges, without Byron’s knowledge. The victim notification service is currently available in more than 2,000 communities in 41 states.
For a full audio account of the press conference, click here. For more information on the DA's Victim Witness Unit, click here. For PA SAVIN, click here