Crime victims will now be alerted if their offender is released from prison by a statewide notification system that will be implemented in Pennsylvania within the next 18 months.
The Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification system (SAVIN) alerts registered clients of an offender's release, transfer or parole hearing via text message, said spokeswoman Jennifer Recktenwald, who added that anyone can sign up for the free service.
Centre County uses a similar victim notification system created by Appriss Inc., said Edward DeSabato, Centre County Correctional Facility Warden.
The victims are alerted when the offender leaves the building for any reason, Sabato said, including work, transfer or release.
SAVIN, also created by Appriss Inc., will override Centre County's current system once it is installed, Recktenwald said.
The notification system will be set up on a county basis, beginning with Philadelphia County -- the "top priority," she said.
"We go for the larger populated communities first, so we can serve more victims," she said, adding that it will take about 18 months to serve the entire state.
Recktenwald said the other counties to receive the notification system during the initial phase have not yet been decided but will be most likely based on population.
Anyone who wants to receive the service can sign up online or by telephone and can register "as many e-mail addresses or telephone numbers as they wish," she said. The service will continue to contact the victim every 30 minutes for 48 hours until he or she is reached, Recktenwald said.
Currently there is no statewide notification system set up in Pennsylvania; however, DeSabato said he is aware of Clinton County using the same alert system as Centre County.
SAVIN is used statewide in 21 other states, Recktenwald said, adding that Wyoming, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa and Pennsylvania are the most recent states to enter into contract with Appriss Inc.
The notification system was addressed at a recent warden's conference, DeSabato said, adding that the system should be running in two years or less. Centre County was the first county to enter into contract with Apriss two years ago, he said.
