Potter County Sheriff

Texas Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE)
The Texas VINE program is designed to allow the victim of a violent crime to track the progress of incarceration and court proceedings of the suspect in their case. While used for a wide variety of crimes, this is especially beneficial for those who are the victim of domestic violence offenses. The victim of this type of offense needs only register in the VINE program to be automatically notified of any change of status with regards to the suspect. In this manner you will be automatically notified when the offender is being released from jail. The Toll Free number for the Texas VINE program is 1-877-TX4-VINE (877-894-8563). You may also register online by visiting the VINE website. Below is a press release from the Office of the Attorney General that gives more information about VINE: Attorney General Abbott Launches Program To Help Crime Victims Track Offenders Texas VINE links crime victims with information about jailed offenders, court dates HOUSTON - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today joined with Harris County crime victims’ advocacy groups to unveil a new service to help crime victims stay informed about the cases and those accused of committing the crimes against them. Texas VINE, or Victim Information and Notification Everyday, gives crime victims access to suspect and offender jail status and court developments 24 hours a day. “Crime victims have the right to be involved in the process and have access to information about their cases,” said Attorney General Abbott. “Texas VINE gives crime victims another way to stay involved in the judicial process, empowering them to take back the control they so often lose to their attackers.” Texas VINE is a free, anonymous and continually updated telephone service. Every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day, information is transferred from county databases to the National VINE Communications Center in Louisville, Kentucky, where the information is stored. Those updates are available immediately to Texas crime victims who sign up for the service by calling 1-877-TX4-VINE or 1-877-894-8463. Listen to VINE telephone options recording Attorney General Abbott also recognized Sandra McCoy, of Houston, for becoming a participant in the Texas VINE program. Ms. McCoy signed up for the program after her daughter’s accused killer was arrested in November 2003. “I couldn’t believe there was such a program because this guy could make bond and get out and I would never really know it (without the VINE program).” Sandra McCoy said her family plans on attending the trial of her daughters’ killer and the VINE system make it possible for them to track court dates. Texas VINE is a statewide program with 45 counties operational and another 50 in the process of setting up their systems. Texas VINE was established by the Texas Legislature through House Bill 1572, enacted in September 2001. The Legislature allocated resources to implement a statewide automated victim notification system under the direction of the Office of the Attorney General’s Crime Victim Services Division.

The Texas VINE program is designed to allow the victim of a violent crime to track the progress of incarceration and court proceedings of the suspect in their case. While used for a wide variety of crimes, this is especially beneficial for those who are the victim of domestic violence offenses. The victim of this type of offense needs only register in the VINE program to be automatically notified of any change of status with regards to the suspect. In this manner you will be automatically notified when the offender is being released from jail.

The Toll Free number for the Texas VINE program is 1-877-TX4-VINE (877-894-8563). You may also register online by visiting the VINE website.

Below is a press release from the Office of the Attorney General that gives more information about VINE:

Attorney General Abbott Launches Program To Help Crime Victims Track Offenders

Texas VINE links crime victims with information about jailed offenders, court dates

HOUSTON - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today joined with Harris County crime victims’ advocacy groups to unveil a new service to help crime victims stay informed about the cases and those accused of committing the crimes against them. Texas VINE, or Victim Information and Notification Everyday, gives crime victims access to suspect and offender jail status and court developments 24 hours a day.

“Crime victims have the right to be involved in the process and have access to information about their cases,” said Attorney General Abbott. “Texas VINE gives crime victims another way to stay involved in the judicial process, empowering them to take back the control they so often lose to their attackers.”

Texas VINE is a free, anonymous and continually updated telephone service. Every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day, information is transferred from county databases to the National VINE Communications Center in Louisville, Kentucky, where the information is stored. Those updates are available immediately to Texas crime victims who sign up for the service by calling 1-877-TX4-VINE or 1-877-894-8463.

Listen to VINE telephone options recording

Attorney General Abbott also recognized Sandra McCoy, of Houston, for becoming a participant in the Texas VINE program. Ms. McCoy signed up for the program after her daughter’s accused killer was arrested in November 2003. “I couldn’t believe there was such a program because this guy could make bond and get out and I would never really know it (without the VINE program).” Sandra McCoy said her family plans on attending the trial of her daughters’ killer and the VINE system make it possible for them to track court dates.

Texas VINE is a statewide program with 45 counties operational and another 50 in the process of setting up their systems. Texas VINE was established by the Texas Legislature through House Bill 1572, enacted in September 2001. The Legislature allocated resources to implement a statewide automated victim notification system under the direction of the Office of the Attorney General’s Crime Victim Services Division.