The week of April 2-8, 2017, was a time for communities across the country to remember victims in observance of the Office for Victims of Crime’s (OVC) National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. In furtherance of the Nebraska Board of Parole’s mission and vision, we want to increase community awareness of the mechanisms that are available to victims and other concerned citizens to help keep them safe.
Nebraska Department of Correctional Services/Board of Parole Victim Notification
For inmates incarcerated in the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, victims may request to be notified in specific circumstances. Please refer to the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services’ website which provides information on the circumstances for which victims can request notification (http://www.corrections.nebraska.gov/victimnotification.html).
The Nebraska Board of Parole also provides information regarding Victim Rights in connection with parole decisions and parole administration on this website under “Victim Information” as well as Frequently Asked Questions to assist victims and other concerned citizens (https://parole.nebraska.gov/victim-rights).
For more information on how to register for victim notification through the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services/Board of Parole, please contact the Central Records Office (402) 471-2654.
VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday
VINE provides another avenue for victims to anonymously check on an offender’s custody status. Victims can call a toll-free number, visit the VINE website (www.vinelink.com) or utilize the VINEmobile™ app. They can also register for automated notification regarding changes in status in a format of their choice—phone, email, text, or TTY (hearing impaired service). A link to VINE can also be found under the “Victim Information” section of this website under the Victim Information Notification Everyday tab. The VINE service number is (877) 634-8463.
Interstate Compact Offender Tracking System (ICOTS) VINEWatch Notification System ICOTS VINEWatch was launched by the Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision and is an automated victim notification system for victims to obtain information regarding the status of offenders who relocate from one state to another. The alerts provide interested victims notifications that correlate to various processes for offenders managed in ICOTS. These notifications are communicated via email, text, and telephone. For text messages, standard text message rates apply and are the recipient’s responsibility. The notifications can be tailored by the victim to receive the notifications they want to receive. For more information regarding ICOTS VINEWatch, please contact Tom Verplank, Administrative Parole Officer, in the Nebraska Interstate Compact Office, (402) 479-5650.