| Columbia County Sheriff's Office |
David W. Harrison, Jr., SHERIFF James R. Sweet, UNDERSHERIFF
| Copyright ©2006 Columbia County Sheriff's Office, Hudson, NY 12534 |
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Observes Crime Victims’ Rights Week
April 24, 2009
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office will be among the thousands of other agencies and victim groups across
America to observe the 2009 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week starting April 16, 2009 through May 2, 2009.
The theme for the 2009 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is “25 Years Rebuilding Lives: Celebrating the
Victims of Crime Act.” This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA). This
landmark legislation established the Crime Victims Fund, the only Federal program that funds services to help victims
of all types of crime. VOCA has helped create programs and services that assist victims of domestic violence, sexual
assault, human trafficking, child and elder abuse, drunk driving, identity theft, as well as surviving family members of
homicide victims. Since the inception of VOCA, more than $9 billion dollars has been deposited in the fund through
2008, and the State of New York has received $305,422,000.00 in victim assistance grants, and $121,916,000.00 in
crime victim compensation grants over the past twenty-five years. “Its important, especially during this week, that we
support crime victims while they rebuild their lives and regain a sense of security and hope by keeping them informed
and involved in their case in the aftermath of what happened”, said Sheriff Harrison.
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is also a time to commemorate the ongoing efforts that promote victim justice
and empowerment in America. Since 2002, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office has sponsored the New York State
Victim’s Hotline (VINE – Victim Information and Notification Everyday) a toll free, anonymous service available 24 hours
in the State of New York. This program provides victims of crime and concerned citizens’ access to information
regarding an offender’s custody status either by automated telephone or e-mail. 1-888-VINE-4-NY (1-888-846-3469).
The Hotline provides the status of any offender whether sentenced or not, who is housed in any of the New York
county jails, State correctional facilities or other correctional facilities including New York City jails. The Hotline
receives updated custody information every 15 minutes which means that registered crime victims can count on being
notified of an inmates release within 15 minutes of the time the Hotline receives the update. 15 minutes could make
the difference between life and death.
According to Sheriff Harrison, “The New York Sheriffs’ Victim Hotline program is an important service to victims. It
provides them with the confidence and comfort of knowing that the offender in their case is still incarcerated and that
they will be notified upon the offender’s release. This will allow a victim to make informed choices about their personal
safety, and hopefully the confidence to move forward in the rebuilding process.”
Sheriff Harrison wants to encourage the members of our communities to promote National Crime Victims’ Week –
“25 Years or Rebuilding Lives: Celebrating the Victims of Crime Act” by taking the time to reflect on and help support
crime victim rights and services.
For additional information on the New York Sheriffs’ Victim Hotline, please contact Lt. Thomas H. Lanphear, Jr.,
Sheriff’s Office VINE Coordinator at 518-828-3324 or about other services for victims of crimes in Columbia County
visit the Sheriff’s Office website at www.columbiacountysheriff.us.
April 24, 2009
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office will be among the thousands of other agencies and victim groups across
America to observe the 2009 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week starting April 16, 2009 through May 2, 2009.
The theme for the 2009 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is “25 Years Rebuilding Lives: Celebrating the
Victims of Crime Act.” This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA). This
landmark legislation established the Crime Victims Fund, the only Federal program that funds services to help victims
of all types of crime. VOCA has helped create programs and services that assist victims of domestic violence, sexual
assault, human trafficking, child and elder abuse, drunk driving, identity theft, as well as surviving family members of
homicide victims. Since the inception of VOCA, more than $9 billion dollars has been deposited in the fund through
2008, and the State of New York has received $305,422,000.00 in victim assistance grants, and $121,916,000.00 in
crime victim compensation grants over the past twenty-five years. “Its important, especially during this week, that we
support crime victims while they rebuild their lives and regain a sense of security and hope by keeping them informed
and involved in their case in the aftermath of what happened”, said Sheriff Harrison.
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is also a time to commemorate the ongoing efforts that promote victim justice
and empowerment in America. Since 2002, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office has sponsored the New York State
Victim’s Hotline (VINE – Victim Information and Notification Everyday) a toll free, anonymous service available 24 hours
in the State of New York. This program provides victims of crime and concerned citizens’ access to information
regarding an offender’s custody status either by automated telephone or e-mail. 1-888-VINE-4-NY (1-888-846-3469).
The Hotline provides the status of any offender whether sentenced or not, who is housed in any of the New York
county jails, State correctional facilities or other correctional facilities including New York City jails. The Hotline
receives updated custody information every 15 minutes which means that registered crime victims can count on being
notified of an inmates release within 15 minutes of the time the Hotline receives the update. 15 minutes could make
the difference between life and death.
According to Sheriff Harrison, “The New York Sheriffs’ Victim Hotline program is an important service to victims. It
provides them with the confidence and comfort of knowing that the offender in their case is still incarcerated and that
they will be notified upon the offender’s release. This will allow a victim to make informed choices about their personal
safety, and hopefully the confidence to move forward in the rebuilding process.”
Sheriff Harrison wants to encourage the members of our communities to promote National Crime Victims’ Week –
“25 Years or Rebuilding Lives: Celebrating the Victims of Crime Act” by taking the time to reflect on and help support
crime victim rights and services.
For additional information on the New York Sheriffs’ Victim Hotline, please contact Lt. Thomas H. Lanphear, Jr.,
Sheriff’s Office VINE Coordinator at 518-828-3324 or about other services for victims of crimes in Columbia County
visit the Sheriff’s Office website at www.columbiacountysheriff.us.