Statewide victim assistance and notification 24 hours a day.

A Message from the Sheriffs of New York

Many victims live in fear that the criminal offender who victimized them may someday return to do so again. For these victims and their families and friends, it is important to know if that offender is incarcerated in a correctional facility - and to know if and when that offender is released from custody.

It has often been difficult for a victim to obtain timely and accurate information about an offender's custody status - information so important to the victim's peace of mind. That is why the Sheriffs across the State of New York are pleased to implement the Sheriffs' VICTIM HOTLINE. Now with just one toll-free phone call, a citizen can immediately learn the custody status of any offender housed in any of New York's county jails or other county correctional facilities.

In addition to providing custody status information to callers, the Sheriffs' VICTIM HOTLINE also has an automatic notification feature. Any victim may register with the Sheriffs' VICTIM HOTLINE to be automatically notified if an offender's custody status should change. This feature eliminates the need for a victim to constantly call the Sheriffs' VICTIM HOTLINE to verify the offender's status.

DO NOT DEPEND SOLELY ON THE SHERIFFS' VICTIM HOTLINE, OR ANY OTHER SINGLE PROGRAM, FOR YOUR PROTECTION. MAKE THE NEW YORK SHERIFFS' VICTIM HOTLINE PART OF YOUR SAFETY PLAN.

Second Annual New York Statewide Conference on VINE

The New York State Sheriffs’ Association Institute, Inc. hosted the Second Annual New York Statewide Conference on VINE on April 18, 2008 at the Holiday Inn Wolf Road, Albany, NY. One hundred thirty registrants from not-for-profit and governmental agencies representing Law Enforcement, Corrections, Probation, Parole, Criminal Justice, District Attorney Offices, Board of Health, Mental Health, Victim Advocacy and Domestic Violence Services were in attendance. Consistent with this year’s National Crime Victims Rights’ Week theme, “Justice for Victims: Justice for All” a distinguished array of speakers reflected on how best to help victims of crime.

Pictured left to right: Michael Davis, President and Co-founder of the VINE Program - Victim Information and Notification Everyday; Mildred Muhammed, Executive Director, After the Trauma; and Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike, Board Chairman of the New York State Sheriffs' Association Institute, Inc.

Mildred Muhammed, the ex-wife of the 'DC Stalker,' presented a riveting and chilling description of the trauma she endured over the kidnapping of her three children and the constant threat of being stalked as a targeted victim by her ex-husband, John. Despite her efforts to seek help, the absence of physical scars proved to be a bewildering handicap to her as a victim. It was only when she learned of the VINE program - Victim Information and Notification Everyday - in April of 2007 that she breathed a sigh of relief. Now she could determine the custody status of her ex-husband, the offender.

Pictured from left to right: Tina Stanford, New York State Crime Victim Board Chairwoman; Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike, Board Chairman of the New York State Sheriffs' Association Institute, Inc.

New York State Crime Victim Board Chairwoman Tina Stanford’s keynote address was a moving reminder of the trauma crime victims endure throughout their lives. Workshops on VINE and Law Enforcement, Probation and Domestic Violence focused on how best to use VINE. Executive Director Sean Byrne outlined a series of initiatives undertaken by the Division of Criminal Justice to assist crime victims. A program to alert persons who obtain an Order of Protection that the order was served on the offender was enthusiastically received.

Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike, Board Chairman of the New York State Sheriffs' Association Institute, Inc. (left), poses for a photo with Sean Byrne, Executive Director of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Service (center) and Christopher O'Brien, Director of the New York State Sheriffs' Association Institute, Inc.

At day’s end, Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike and Board Chairman of the New York State Sheriffs’ Association Institute, Inc. noted that the conference once again brought participants from around the State of New York to network together and revitalize themselves for the ongoing responsibility of assisting crime victims.

Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike, Board Chairman of the New York State Sheriffs’ Association Institute, Inc., and Retired Rockland County Sheriff Thomas G. Goldrick, Chairman of the New York Sheriffs’ Victim Advisory Board, presented the Friend of Law Enforcement Award to Michael Davis – President and Co-founder of the VINE Program – Victim Information and Notification Everyday, at the Second Annual New York Statewide Conference on VINE. Mr. Davis was recognized for his leadership, compassion and commitment to all Crime Victims by the New York State Sheriffs’ Association Institute, Inc.