Attorney General John Cornyn has named a Steering Committee to assist in planning and managing the implementation of the Academy, including the development of the Texas-specific curriculum. The Institute's survey of 3,000 victim service providers on training needs will provide valuable direction. The Steering Committee includes representatives of the state's victim services organizations as well as criminal justice professionals. Led by Project Coordinator Dr. Dawn Wiatrek, the Pilot Study will be implemented using a technology called Victim Information and Notification Everyday. VINE is an automated victim information and notification system that provides authorized users with direct access to offenders' county jail custody status and court events 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Victims can access information that is important to their safety or to their case as needed.
An added feature allows victims to be notified automatically by telephone when any major changes occur in the offender's status or scheduled court events. For example, if an offender posts bail and is released, or if a trial date has been rescheduled, the VINE system will call the victim who requested this level of notification. Information can be provided in English or Spanish. An interim report will be provided to the 77th Texas Legislature with preliminary recommendations on the scope, design, and feasibility of a statewide automated victim information and notification system. The Pilot Study is funded a grant from the Criminal Justice Planning Fund of the Governor's Criminal Justice Division.