Two more states adopt NPLEx to fight methamphetamine

Nevada and Vermont are the latest states to join the ranks of those using NPLEx (National Precursor Log Exchange) to help combat the production of methamphetamine. Each state recently passed, and their governors signed into law, legislation adopting the system. That brings the total number of states now using NPLEx to 27.

NPLEx is a real-time electronic logging system used by pharmacies and law enforcement to track sales of over-the-counter cold and allergy medications containing pseudoephedrine, which is used to manufacture methamphetamine. Sales are blocked for anyone attempting to purchase more than the legal limit.

States across the country are seeing a reduction in the number of meth labs with the help of NPLEx. For example, earlier this year the Alabama Drug Task Force issued a report stating that with the help of the NPLEx system the state has “significantly reduced meth lab numbers.”

Nevada and Vermont are expecting to have NPLEx up and running before the end of the year.

New mobile technology available for America’s victims of crime

Appriss Inc. has introduced a mobile version of its automated victim notification service known as VINE^® (Victim Information and Notification Everyday). VINE is used by victims of crime nationwide and monitors over 95% of the nation’s incarcerated offenders. The new VINEmobile app means people who have been victims of crime can easily check on the status of their offender and register to be notified about changes in that status via phone or email simply by accessing VINE on their smartphone or tablet. The app is available for both iPhone and Android devices.

“In today’s society, people expect the information they need to be right at their fingertips, on their mobile devices. Appriss is committed to delivering information to victims of crime however they wish to receive it,” said Appriss CEO Michael Davis. “VINE gives them peace of mind and it’s vital they have easy access to the service —no matter where they are.”

Through VINE, crime victims and other concerned persons can check on an offender’s custody status and register to be notified about any change in that status 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The service is free and anonymous. In 2012 VINE delivered nearly 30 million notifications to registered victims.

VINE was developed in 1994, a year after the murder of Mary Byron, a Louisville, KY woman who was shot to death by her ex-boyfriend, after he had been released from jail without her knowledge.

Mary’s mother Pat Byron said, “For the past 20 years I have advocated for technology that will help give victims the time sensitive information they need to help protect themselves from further harm. I am so excited to see the VINE program now deliver this information through mobile technology as well. I believe this is where most victims in the future will turn to get the latest update on their offender.”

Appriss launches single national platform for sheriff apps

Appriss is now making its mobile app for sheriffs available through a single national platform. More than 80 sheriffs’ offices across the country now have their smartphone apps on the new MobilePatrol™ platform … and additional offices are being added weekly. The single platform means individual sheriffs’ offices are able to make their app available to their community much quicker. For users, the app is free and is available for both Android and iPhone devices by searching “MobilePatrol” at Google Play or the App Store.

“With this single platform we no longer have to go through the app approval process for each individual sheriff’s office,” said Appriss President David Kaelin. “ Users just download MobilePatrol on their device and then simply select which sheriff’s app they want on their phone or tablet. We’re now able to help sheriffs’ offices go mobile much more quickly so they can communicate with their communities more easily and efficiently.”

With the sheriff’s app, people are able to instantly receive emergency notifications such as Amber Alerts and weather warnings. They can view a list of most wanted persons and see who’s been arrested and is being held in the local jail. Additionally, they can report a crime and even share information from the sheriff’s office directly to their Facebook page.

Appriss began deploying the apps last year as a free tool for sheriffs’ offices that use the company’s victim notification service, VINE^®  (Victim Information and Notification Everyday).

Final Wisconsin county completes statewide WI-VINE

Racine County has become the final county in Wisconsin to implement the victim notification system known as VINE^® (Victim Information and Notification Everyday). As a result, all 72 Wisconsin county jails now provide communities throughout the state with access to the WI-VINE service.

Through WI-VINE, crime victims, concerned citizens, law enforcement and victim service providers can check on the status of an offender 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling Wisconsin VINE at (888) 944-8463 or online at www.vinelink.com. They can also register to be automatically notified when there is a change in that offender’s custody status. The service is free and anonymous.

“Individuals and communities throughout the state are safer as a result of the effective partnership forged between the Department of Corrections and the Badger State Sheriffs Association in bringing VINE to Wisconsin,” said WI-VINE Program Manager Pam Brandon. “WI-VINE affords every county in the state the opportunity to lessen or avoid the devastating human and considerable economic costs related to criminal behavior.”

In April 2009 Marinette County became the first Wisconsin county to offer WI-VINE.  Since that time, utilization of the WI-VINE service has been noteworthy:

• 34,475 registrations
• 747,896 site searches
• 28,341 confirmed phone events
• 27,331 successful email deliveries

WI-VINE was originally funded through a $1.2 million SAVIN grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. Ongoing annual funding was subsequently approved in the Governor’s 2011-13 Biennial Budget. Ms. Brandon said she is also pleased that beginning in June 2013 the WI-VINE service will be enhanced with the addition of VINE Protective Order (VPO), a service which notifies petitioners when a protective order has been served by local law enforcement.

The VINE service – available in 47 states – was created in 1994 by Louisville-based Appriss Inc. in response to the 1993 murder of Mary Byron, a local woman who was shot to death on her 21^st birthday by her ex-boyfriend. He had been jailed for raping her and was released without her knowledge.

April 21-27 is National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

Victims of crime and those who support and serve them are taking center stage to mark National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 21-28. This year’s theme — “New Challenges, New Solutions” — focuses on the continuing importance of advancing victims’ rights while also celebrating the successes achieved so far.

A vital right for crime victims is the right to be notified when their offender is released from jail or prison. VINE^® (Victim Information and Notification Everyday), a free, confidential service available in more than 2,800 communities nationwide, helps support and uphold that right. VINE gives victims and other concerned citizens 24/7/365 access to the custody status of offenders and lets them register for automatic notification via telephone, email or text about key activities related to their cases.

VINE was created in 1994 following the murder of Mary Byron in Louisville, Kentucky. Mary was shot to death on her 21st birthday by her ex-boyfriend, who had been arrested for raping her but was released from jail without her knowledge.

VINE helps crime victims by providing a critical service that enhances their personal safety and helps them make informed choices about their cases, their alleged or convicted offenders, and their lives.

There was a time not long ago when victims had no voice in the criminal justice system — when murder victims’ families were excluded from courtrooms and assault victims paid all their own medical bills. National Crime Victims’ Rights Week honors the victims and advocates who confronted such injustices and helped produce a nationwide system of victim compensation and victims’ rights. But it’s also a reminder that many victims are still struggling for rights and that existing rights are not always enforced, jeopardizing the success of these reforms.

“Crime victims should not be further victimized by being kept in the dark about the status of their offender and their case,” said Appriss CEO Michael Davis. “By keeping them informed and involved in their case, VINE enhances a victim’s safety and provides peace of mind.”

Currently every state has a victims’ bill of rights and a victim compensation program, more than 30 states have victims’ rights constitutional amendments and more than 10,000 victim assistance programs operate in communities across the nation.

To register for VINE or to learn more about the program visit www.vinelink.com.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Sexual violence occurs when persons are forced or manipulated into sexual activity without their consent. It includes rape, incest, child sexual abuse, intimate partner violence, human trafficking, sexual exploitation, harassment and more.

Anyone can be a victim of sexual violence whether they are children, teens, adults or elders. The crimes occur daily in our communities, schools and workplaces.

Some startling statistics about sexual violence
* one in six boys and one in four girls will experience a sexual assault before the age of 18
* one in five women and one in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives
* more than 25% of mail victims reported their first rape when they were 10 years of age or younger
* rape is far more extensive than reported in official statistics and the majority of rapists are never apprehended

Anyone can prevent sexual assault. You can be a role model for respectful behavior. Talk with your children about healthy sexual development and personal boundaries. If you see inappropriate behavior, don’t sit on the sidelines but intervene. Reach out to your community’s sexual assault center for more information and invite them to speak to your schools, workplace, and faith communities.

As a parent or caregiver, you are in the unique position of helping children and teens who are experiencing sexual violence. If you notice a sudden change in mood or behavior, lower grades and social withdrawal.

For more information, contact the following:
* ChildHelp National Child Abuse Hotline
1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)
http://www.childhelp.org
* National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC): http://www.nsvrc.org
* Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN): http://www.rainn.org

VINE brings peace of mind to stalking survivor

I am a stalking victim in Iowa who checks the VINELink web site regularly just for peace of mind, knowing that the person who victimized me and my children, is still incarcerated.

Before he was sent to prison, he would regularly head straight to my neighborhood after bailing himself out of jail on charges of violating the order of protection. This was his way of showing me that he was in charge, not the law, and having him arrested wouldn’t change his behavior. I’m not going to go into too much detail about my story here, but will tell you he was charged over 40 times with crimes he committed against my family. Five of those charges were for stalking.

The VINE notifications I received when he was released were instrumental in helping me keep my loved ones informed of his release, therefore more alert of his possible presence in our neighborhood. On the day he committed his fifth stalking crime against us, it was within two hours of bailing himself out of jail after being charged with eight new violations of the order of protection.

I received a VINELink text that he was released from jail when I was just ready to leave work, notified my family members that he was released, and headed to the grocery store. When I arrived home, I saw him sitting near my home watching it. My daughter’s boyfriend also saw him watching our home when he drove into town to take his sisters to soccer practice. We were all on high alert and more aware of our surroundings due to the VINE notification I received. I believe this was instrumental when the case went to trial since we were able to testify about the notification, the fact that he once again headed straight to my home after bailing out of jail, our witnessing his behavior and testifying to the events that happened.

His probation was revoked and he was sent to prison three weeks after that fifth stalking charge, on September 1, 2010. He is serving 21 years total, but has already been granted a parole hearing due to good behavior. I fear the day he is released from prison and hope that I am notified right away so my family can go back on high alert.

I have a web site where you can read about some of my story. It’s http://www.stalkinghelpnow.org/. My goal now is to raise awareness on the issue of stalking. I feel it is not taken as seriously as it should be.

My sympathy to the family of Mary Byron on her passing. It does not surprise me that it happened on her birthday. Former intimate partners often victimize their victims on their birthday, holidays or dates with special meaning to them.