The notification program is designed to offer information to the registered victim and, where appropriate, to allow for the victim's inclusion in the decision-making process. Emphasis is placed on a full and complete contact that is attractively presented and in language that a layperson can understand. The notification program also provides information about changes in the status of an identified inmate, and offers an avenue for the victim or victim's family to raise considerations regarding those changes. Notices of release from custody are provided by letter. Telephone calls are immediate with information about escapes and subsequent apprehension.
Special attention is provided to victims during the time the offender is on escape status.
These procedures meet all American Correctional Association accreditation standards. It is important to note that the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, a separate agency from the Department of Corrections, is responsible for notifying a registered victim when the inmate is scheduled to come before the parole board.