Wednesday, October 10, 2007

20th Anniversary of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October 2007 marks the 20th anniversary of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This is an ideal time for our community to join together to address the devastating impact of domestic violence on individuals, families, neighborhoods, and our nation as a whole, and promote domestic violence prevention and greater public awareness about the rights and services available to victims.

One way to help stop the cycle of domestic violence is by keeping victims informed throughout the criminal justice process. Since 1998, Arkansas has provided a service to victims called VINE®, or Victim Information and Notification Everyday. VINE allows crime victims and other concerned citizens to call a toll-free number (1-800-510-0415) or log onto http://www.vinelink.com/ to access real-time custody status information about their offender. Victims can also register to receive immediate notification when an offender has a change in status, such as a release or transfer. All VINE services are free and confidential.

VINE receives updated custody information every 15 minutes, seven days a week, and 365 days a year, which means registered crime victims can count on being notified of an offender's release or change in custody status within 15 minutes of the time VINE receives the update. This vital information can help victims make important decisions and take measures to protect their safety and, in some cases, can make the difference between life and death.

There are countless victims of domestic violence who need to know that services are available to support them, and that they have rights under the law. VINE is a vital service that fulfills domestic violence victims' rights to information and notification, and that can empower them by keeping them informed and involved. If someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, encourage him or her to register with VINE by calling 1-800-510-0415, logging onto http://www.vinelink.com/ or contacting me, Stacy Nolan at 1-501-682-2222 or at snolan@acic.state.ar.us .

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