Rutherford County residents now have fast access to custody information on county jail offenders, thanks to the Tennessee Sheriffs’ Association and annual funding from the state ofTennessee.
Sheriff Robert Arnold has joined and launched Tennessee Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification (TNSAVIN) system, an automated service utilizing the VINE (Victim Information Notification Everyday) system in which citizens can access a 24-hour-a-day notification system about the status of offenders, either by telephone or on the Internet.
“Protecting the citizens of Rutherford County is always one of our highest priorities,” said Sheriff Arnold.
TNSAVIN provides an added level of protection because it gives everyone access to timely and accurate information on offenders in Rutherford County and all participating county facilities throughout the state.
“Our staff has been working hard toward implementing and promoting this service to the public and especially to assist the victims of any crime,” Arnold said. “It also allows more access to any person who wants to know if a perpetrator is behind bars for their general safety. Also, many of our area criminal justice personnel utilize the notification service to track offenders.”
Citizens who want to participate may call 1-888-868-4631. They are asked to provide an offender’s name and/or booking number, which they can obtain from the Rutherford County AdultDetention Center.
After the system has provided the relevant custody information, it asks callers if they would like to register to be automatically notified when the offender is released or transferred and what manner of notification they prefer. The service is confidential. The offender will not know if someone is registered with SAVIN.
Those choosing to register provide a phone number and a four-digit personal identification number (PIN), which they will later use to confirm the notification calls or to cancel any future calls if needed.
Live operator assistance is available round-the-clock for callers who have questions or require additional help. General information is in both Spanish and English and interpreters are available in many languages.
Citizens can also go online at www.vinelink.com to locate an offender and/or register via the Internet. They simply click on the state of Tennessee on the VINE map and follow the instructions.
“It’s very user-friendly and people should not hesitate to utilize it,” Sheriff Arnold said. “What makes it special is the automatic notification feature – as long as you’ve got a telephone or a computer, you can receive an automated alert anytime of the day or night. That kind of protection is critically important to anyone who’s concerned about the whereabouts of any offender. Just remember your initial PIN number and you can stop the calls whenever you’d like.”
The goal of the SAVIN program is to increase public safety and improve basic criminal justice decisions by ensuring that victims are given accurate information that enhances their ability to protect themselves, their families and their workplace.
As of this date, TNSAVIN has 94 of Tennessee’s 95 counties enrolled in the program. VINE is a nationwide delivery service operating in 46 states. For further general information on the TNSAVIN Program, residents can contact the Tennessee Sheriffs’ Association at 615-547-0112.
