VINE is available in Georgia

Empower victims and survivors of violent crime in your county.
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Get Connected to VINE in 4 Easy Steps

VINE can often be up and running for your county in less than 90 days once implementation begins. 

Once your office is live, VINE runs in the background to updates related to changes in incarceration status. 

Step 1: Complete the registration form

Step 2: Your designated contact will receive an email within the next 5 days from VINE to fill out the questionnaire.

Step 3: The VINE team will begin integration with your jail management system. Once complete, there is a brief testing period to ensure VINE is working as expected.

Step 4: VINE is live and available for victims and survivors in your county.

VINE Implementation

Your partnership is crucial to the success of the victim notification program in Georgia. 

Georgia has adopted VINE as the notification system of record for keeping victims and survivors of crimes informed regarding the status of an incarcerated person. In accordance with Marsy’s Law, as well as through funding secured as a result of the efforts of the Governor’s Office, The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC), and Criminal Case Data Exchange Board (CDC), VINE enables the state to provide a consistent and proven service to victims and survivors, while also demonstrating law enforcement’s commitment to transparency and public safety.

For VINE to be implemented in each county, we need sheriffs to work with the VINE team. All counties are asked to complete a short, 6-question form to get the process started and provide appropriate technology contacts. 

Registering is quick - make the most of state funding and help empower victims and survivors of violent crime in your county by filling out the form today.

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Why Register Your County

Proven solution in several Georgia counties
In 1996, Cobb County Sheriff's Office and Dekalb County Sheriff's Office implemented VINE, the first automated victim notification system in the state. Over the course of the next 25 years 6 more counties (Cherokee, Clarke, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett and Hall County Sheriff Offices) joined the VINE program. In 2020, the ninth county in Georgia, the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office implemented VINE and VINE Court notifications for victims and survivors.
 
Implementation in just a few steps
The VINE implementation team stands at the ready to assist in the technological integration required to enable the VINE service in your county. We need to know who to engage with to gather some technical requirements, and we will use that information to link our platform to the necessary information from your jail system. This is critical to activating VINE for your county and providing peace of mind to the constituents of your state.
 
Transparency and peace of mind, since 1994
From its humble beginnings, VINE has delivered more than 800 million notifications, providing timely information and peace of mind to victims and survivors all over the United States.

Benefits of VINE

Using VINE is simple, and it provides agencies and law enforcement with a consistent and reliable way to ensure victims, survivors, and concerned citizens can be properly informed about the status of an individual.
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Up-to-date information, when it's most critical

Knowing the status of an offender in near real-time is essential to enabling safety and peace of mind for victims. Having VINE available helps demonstrate your county’s commitment to public safety and empowering victims and survivors of crime.
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Sensitivity trained support, when it's most needed

The VINE Customer First Center is staffed 24/7/365 by sensitivity-trained service representatives who help callers that may be using the VINE service in a high stress, high cognitive load moment. You can rest assured that victims and survivors are being supported with top-of-line support that reflects well on your office.
Victims and survivors may call a toll-free number, visit www.vinelink.com, or use the VINELink mobile app to anonymously check on an offender's custody status.
VINE users can also register to receive automated notifications about changes in custody status via their choice of delivery method: in-app, phone, email, text, or TTY (hearing impaired) service. Using VINE is simple, and it provides agencies and law enforcement with a consistent and reliable way to ensure victims, survivors, and concerned citizens can be properly informed about the status of an individual.
Frequently asked questions

GSA and the VINE team will provide training to agency staff, a press release for the Sheriff to announce implementation, and print materials such as tear-pads, posters, and brochures. Contact Kristy Carter at kristy.carter@cjcc.ga.gov for access to these materials.

The VINE contract is through the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC). They make the service available to each Sheriff’s Office to opt-in at no cost.

Yes, VINE provides automated victim notification to registrants and helps fulfill SB 127 and SR 146 (Marsy’s Law) which include the constitutional duty to notify victims of any release, escape, or death of the accused. VINE also helps fulfill requirements of SB 272 regarding adoption, development, and use of an automated system that provides individualized notification to victims.

There is minimal work on the agency side. VINE has connections with over 250 jail management systems across the country and we work very closely with those vendors. VINE can often be up and running for your county in less than 90 days once implementation begins. Once your office is live, VINE runs in the background to make updates related to changes in incarceration status.

VINE uses the data from the Jail Management System you use for booking/releasing offenders. No dual data entry is required. VINE interfaces with your existing JMS via SFTP, API or a router device onsite.

  • Statewide dedicated VINE toll-free phone line - The VINE system toll-free number - available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and 365 days per year (24 x 7 x 365) - allows victims, surviving immediate family members, witnesses, and other concerned citizens to search for an inmate or case, obtain information, and register for notifications.
  • VINELink – A dedicated public portal available 24 x 7 x 365 for registrants. Web page design and functionality provides public access to information through a secure web portal, which publishes offender information via VINELink (www.vinelink.com). The VINELink service allows victims to self-register and to update their contact information.
  • VINEWatch - VINEWatch is a secure, administrative web portal provided to program administrators for management of the VINE program.
  • Live Operator Assistance – A distinguishing feature provided by VINE. Callers have the option of speaking to a sensitivity-trained VINE Service Representative (VSR) through the VINE toll-free phone number. VSRs can assist the caller in locating an inmate or case, registering for automated notifications, and referring the victim to state agencies regarding additional concerns or for additional information. VSR’s are available 24 x 7 x 365 for all callers. Translation services are provided in over 190 languages to callers who require additional assistance in a language other than English.
  • Research and Resolution of Service Interruptions – VINE Customer First Center (CFC) technical support includes 24 x 7 x 365 research, troubleshooting, or escalation of VINE-related inquiries.
  • Dedicated Support Team - The VINE team consists of qualified technical experts, live operator support through the Customer First Center (CFC) (available around the clock every day of the year), and a dedicated Customer Success Manager (CSM) who serves as the primary point of contact for VINE. Working together, this structure provides robust service and support to help ensure customer satisfaction and the best possible notification experience for victims.

The Georgia VINE Project consists of direct interfaces with each of the sheriff offices and their corresponding jail management system. It is an optional program for sheriffs to participate in and provides victims and survivors in each county access to timely offender release information. There is no cost to the Sheriff’s Office to participate.

Victims can self register using the national VINE toll free number (1-866-277-7477), the GA VINE toll free number (1-833-216-6670), vinelink.com or via the VINE mobile application. Law enforcement, victim advocates and other criminal justice professionals can also assist victims with registration. Agencies also have the option to import victim registrations through their jail management system, if the functionality exists.

Get Started With VINE

Start by filling out an easy 6 question form.
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