Louisville, Ky.- Appriss, Inc. has partnered with the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) to bring VINE® to the entire state. Washington becomes the 21st to launch a statewide automated victim notification service, providing crime victims with the capability to track the custody status of their offender by telephone or online.
VINE gives crime victims and concerned citizens up-to-date offender custody information, 24 hours a day. Users will be able to call a toll-free number, 1-877-VINE-4-WA (877-846-3492,) or go online at www.vinelink.com to find out if an offender is in jail or prison. They can also register to be notified automatically when an offender is released, transferred, or escapes.
“Three Washington counties have been using VINE to keep thousands of victims informed of their offenders’ status,” said Mike Davis, Appriss president. “We are pleased to see WASPC take this to the next level, by offering VINE to the entire state.”
King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties were the first to launch VINE and currently average more than 2,300 incoming calls a month. All three will be incorporated into the statewide VINE service.
WASPC consists of executives and top management personnel from law enforcement agencies statewide. Membership includes sheriffs, police chiefs, the Washington Department of Corrections, the Washington State Patrol, and representatives from a number of federal agencies.
“Washington VINE is the first of several new initiatives WASPC is launching to serve and protect their citizens,” said Davis. “We look forward to working together to keep people informed.”
Appriss provides innovative technology solutions that help governments serve and protect their citizens. Other innovative products and services include VINE Protective Order™, which automatically notifies petitioners when protective orders are served on respondents; JusticeXchange™, the leading solution for connecting criminal justice agencies nationwide; and AlertXpress™, a high-speed notification solution for government agencies. The company’s newest product, Methcheck™, is an automated tool that allows law enforcement to monitor purchases for pseudoephedrine, one of the components in the manufacture of methamphetamine, and to “watch” specific individuals who exceed the legal limits imposed by state law.