Louisville, Ky. — Appriss Inc., provider of VINE® and other technology solutions that help government agencies serve and protect their citizens, has launched a company-wide initiative to build a culture of support and advocacy for crime victims. The program, Appriss Cares, involves a commitment to working with the victims’ service community and encouraging employee volunteerism.
A key goal of the Appriss Cares plan includes building and maintaining relationships with victims’ service providers. Already, Appriss has strong ties to victim advocacy organizations including the National Center for Victims of Crime, the National Organization for Victim Assistance, and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, among others. Under the Appriss Cares plan, the company will continue to work closely with these organizations and seek ways to build relationships with their state-level counterparts.
Appriss will also establish a National Advisory Board comprised of victims, survivors, and advocates to gather input on ways to improve the effectiveness of VINE and other services offered by the company.
In addition, Appriss plans to boost its community service by encouraging volunteerism among employees. Appriss will continue to provide financial support and in-kind services to the Mary Byron Foundation, a public charity it helped to establish in 2000. The Foundation was named in honor of the woman whose murder led to the creation of VINE in 1994. Appriss employees will have the opportunity to volunteer with other victim-related causes in the community without taking personal time off, and will select company-wide service projects throughout the year.
As the company that created and continues to offer VINE®, the National Victim Notification Network, Appriss has experienced rapid growth since its formation in 1994. The patented VINE service is available in more than 1,500 communities in 41 states, including 20 of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas and allows crime victims to obtain timely and reliable information about the custody status of offenders 24 hours a day — over the telephone, through the Internet, or by e-mail.
“The success we’ve achieved makes it even more important for us to stay connected to the people we serve,” said Mike Davis, president and co-founder of Appriss. “The Appriss Cares initiative is our way of demonstrating that we’re absolutely committed to helping victims and those who serve them.“
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.