|
The
Charleston County Sheriff’s Office is
committed to assisting victims and witnesses
of crime in a fair, compassionate and
dignified manner. Agency personnel will
ensure that victims and witnesses of crime
are afforded all the rights and entitlements
provided by law.
Section
16-3-1530 in South Carolina Code of Laws
states that, a department or agency having
custody or custodial supervision of a person
accused, convicted, found not guilty by
reason of insanity, or adjudicated guilty of
committing an offense involving one or more
victims reasonably must attempt to notify
each victim, upon request, of the person’s
release, escape or transfer.
Detention
Center Victim Services is staffed by
civilian Victim Advocates and supervised by
the Victim Services supervisor. Detention
Center Victim Services is responsible for
notifying victims when their accused
offenders have been released from the
facility under any circumstance.
Victim
Services uses the V.I.N.E. (Victim
Information Notification Everyday) telephone
system to assist with notifications. Victims
are registered with V.I.N.E., an automated
computer program, which makes an immediate
notification when an inmate is released or
transferred to another site. By using the
V.I.N.E. system, a crime victim can also
check on the status of their accused
offender at any time. The caller will need
the inmate number or first and last names.
Important Information
about V.I.N.E.
To
register with V.I.N.E., call (866) 727-2846
and follow the automated instructions. A
touch-tone telephone must be used to
register for automated notification. V.I.N.E.
will ask for a telephone number and a
four-digit PIN code. You should select a PIN
that is easy to remember. Also, you may
enter more than one telephone number to
ensure that timely notification is made. If
you move or change telephone numbers after
registering, call the Charleston County
V.I.N.E. line to change your information in
the system.
When
V.I.N.E calls to make notification, enter
the four-digit PIN selected upon
registration to verify that you have been
notified. Once the PIN is entered, the
system will provide information regarding
the inmate.
If a PIN
code is not entered when V.I.N.E. calls or
an answering machine picks up, V.I.N.E. will
continue to call the registered telephone
number for up to 24 hours, until a PIN code
is entered.
V.I.N.E.
is a free and confidential service provided
by the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office.
For additional information regarding the
V.I.N.E. system or assistance in registering
for V.I.N.E., call the Detention Center
Victim Witness Office at (843) 529-7471.
For further information on any other
services provided to crime victims, call the
Charleston County Sheriff’s Office
http://savin.sc.gov |
