Within the next week, crime victims in Centre County will be able to track the status of their offenders with the assistance of a new program called the Victim Information and Notification Everyday system (VINE).

The new automated system will alert individuals who register with Centre County Prison of the status of a particular offender, alerting the victim if the offender has been released permanently or is out of prison for other reasons or another approved absence, such as work release.

Centre County is the first Pennsylvania county to use VINE, but it is used in several other states including New York, Maryland, Ohio and New Jersey.

County Commissioner Steve Dershem said he and fellow commissioners Scott Conklin and Chris Exarchos have been discussing the use of VINE in Centre County for about two months, since Centre County Prison Warden Martin Kovacs recommended it to them.

"It certainly allows victims the peace of mind that they will be contacted," he said.

Dershem added that the system was not restricted to victims of crimes; attorneys, law enforcement, media and any other concerned citizens may use the system.

However, Dershem said the purpose of the system is primarily to help victims of vicious crimes.

"The real issue is we haven't done anything to keep up with the rights of the victim, and that's what we're trying to emphasize here," he said. "If someone wakes up at 3 in the morning, and their child has been assaulted, and they want to know the status, they can find out at 3 a.m."

The new system will be available seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Victims can be contacted about the status personally or have their families or attorney contacted instead.

The system will make continuous calls to the user, alerting him or her of the changes in the offender's status, until it is deactivated by a PIN number known only by the registered user.

Conklin said the new system will be more effective than the current one, which involves prison staff attempting to contact a victim by phone or letter if the victim has requested notification at the time of a prisoner's release.

"Presently today, we do the best we can, but with limited funds, we try to contact you, but if shifts change sometimes we get behind," he said.

Conklin added that the commissioners had received positive feedback from area law enforcement about their decision to implement VINE, particularly the Centre County Women's Resource Center and Centre County District Attorney Ray Gricar.

Gricar said he did not understand why other areas in Pennsylvania have not implemented this technology, but is pleased the commissioners decided to do so in Centre County.

"I see nothing but positives for crime victims," he said.

Dawn McKee, Women's Resource Center education and outreach director, said the center often sees women who are concerned about the status of their offenders, particularly in cases of sexual or domestic assaults.

"I think the more the victim knows, the more control they have over their lives," she said.

Conklin said VINE will also enable Centre County to be more proactive in preventing released offenders from targeting the same victims.

The system will cost $4,000 to implement and $10,000 each year after that to operate, but Centre County officials felt the cost was worth the improved system.

"I don't know if you know anyone who's been sexually assaulted, but it's very difficult for that individual to live a normal life," Conklin said. "This gives people the peace of mind that they can again call 24 hours a day."