One weapon many law enforcement agencies are using to make roads safer in their communities is BuyCrash, a software technology system for local law enforcement agencies that helps them more efficiently and more accurately collect, file, retrieve and analyze electronically submitted crash records. With that information easily available via a secure repository, safety officials can pinpoint problem areas and take action to improve road safety in those areas.

Through a public-private partnership with Appriss Inc., software and support is provided to the agencies at no cost. In addition law enforcement agencies have the opportunity to offer a powerful convenience option to the public making it easier for them to obtain a copy of their report. Involved parties can simply download an official copy of their crash report at BuyCrash.com.

The BuyCrash system — which exists under a unique name in some states — is currently being used by law enforcement agencies in Florida (FIRES), Georgia (GEARS), Indiana (ARIES), Kentucky (KyOPS) and Nebraska.

One of the rights for crime victims is the right to be notified when the offender who harmed them 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 these rights. VINE gives victims and other concerned citizens around-the-clock access to the custody status of offenders and provides automated telephone, email or text notification of key activities related to their cases.

VINE was created in 1994 following the murder of Mary Byron in Louisville, Kentucky. She and her parents had asked to be notified when Mary’s ex-boyfriend was released from jail. They were never told that he was released, and he murdered Mary on her 21^st birthday.

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.

Extending the vision also means recalling a time, not too many years 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. It also reminds us that failures to enforce these laws or to fund programs for victims jeopardize the success of these reforms.

“Victims have their basic human rights of fairness, dignity and respect stripped away during a crime,” said Appriss CEO Michael Davis. “And for many of them, the judicial process further strips away those rights. VINE helps to restore those rights by keeping victims informed and involved in their cases.”

Currently every state has a victims’ bill of rights and a victim compensation program, 32 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.

• The town of Mesquite, Nevada is now part of the state’s VINE system. The Nevada Department of Corrections began offering VINE earlier this year. Mesquite is located in Clark County and has a population of almost 20,000.

• In Idaho, Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter signed into law a bill requiring criminals to pay a $10 fee to help fund victim notification through the state’s VINE program. Idaho VINE is managed by the Idaho Sheriffs’ Association.

To use VINE to check on an offender’s status or to register to be notified of any changes in an offender’s status visit www.vinelink.com.

To promote workplace wellness and a healthy lifestyle among our 350+ employees, Appriss provides free access to an on-site doctor’s office (the only company of its size to do so) and waives health-care premiums for workers who do not use tobacco. Another incentive includes the opportunity for employees to win major prizes (such as vacations or cash bonuses) for meeting certain health goals.

“We’re extremely proud to receive this prestigious award,” said Appriss Human Resources Manager, Debbie Gray. “Being healthy is great for everybody and having healthy employees is a great benefit to any company. We’re always looking for innovative ways to promote — and reward — healthy choices by our employees.”

The Edington Next Practice Awards were presented in conjunction with CBIZ Benefits & Insurance Services Inc. and the University of Michigan Health Management Research Center.

Appriss is consistently ranked as one of the “Best Places to Work” in Kentucky by the Kentucky Society of Human Resource Management. The firm has also been recognized as one of the Louisville area’s “Fastest Growing Companies” each year since 2000.

The Action Kit is designed to help VINE program managers promote victim advocacy programs and the VINE system. The kit includes:

• Sample news release to publicize NCVRW activities and promote victim and public awareness of a community’s VINE/SAVIN service
• Sample PSAs in both 30-second and 60-second formats promoting NCVRW and VINE/SAVIN
• Sample proclamation for NCVRW
• History of victim notification in the U.S. highlighting key accomplishments and landmarks related to victim information and notification since 1980
• List of toll-free and online victim services

National Crime Victims’ Rights Week was established in 1981, making 2012 the 32^nd consecutive year for the event.

Users of the app will have access to real-time detention center information, including photos, plus lists of non-custodial parents and most-wanted criminals. The sheriff’s office will also be able to send news and alerts directly to users’ smartphones – including Amber Alerts and notifications about everything from bank robberies and escapes, to weather warnings and more.

The app will be fully integrated with VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday), allowing people to access the program from their smartphones. It will also be integrated with the office’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

“We have accelerated our efforts to use new technology to increase the level of public safety in Marion County and elsewhere in Indiana,” said Sheriff Layton. “We think the introduction of this app, with its connection to the VINE service, will make it even easier for crime victims to know where offenders are located and when they might be released.”

“We know that more and more people are getting the information they need from their smartphones,” said Sheriff Layton. “We want to make sure we’re using the latest communication technology to keep the public informed, and this app lets us do that.”

Given the fast pace of information exchange today many people would rather go online to get a copy of their crash report. By going to BuyCrash.com, involved parties can purchase and download a copy of the report and eliminate the time, gas and inconvenience of driving to the local police agency and standing in line for a copy of their report.

BuyCrash.com is one component of Florida’s Integrated Report Exchange System (FIRES), which includes free software tools and services for local law enforcement agencies that will help them collect, file, retrieve and analyze crash records. Many agencies currently rely on paper-based processes or costly software solutions. Through a public-private partnership with Appriss Inc., FIRES software and support is provided to the agencies at no cost. Savings across the state could amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in processing, postage, storage and retrieval costs.

Funding for the project is derived primarily from the online sale of crash reports at BuyCrash.com to insurance companies and involved parties.

“Through the new service, the Department provides a convenience to customers by offering crash reports online,” said DHSMV Executive Director Julie Jones. “Harnessing new technology to enhance customer service and to create efficiencies is in line with the agency’s strategy.”

Appriss provides BuyCrash.com services in partnership with several other states — including Kentucky, Indiana, Nebraska, and Georgia — with great success. The revenue from the online sale of crash reports is shared with the state and participating local law enforcement agencies, helping to lower the tax burden at a time of challenging budget deficits.    

VINE tracks more than two million offenders, or 90 percent of the nation’s jail and prison population. VINE allows crime victims and other concerned citizens to learn the custody status of an offender, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by telephone, text, email or online. Victims also can register to be notified if an offender is released, transferred, appears in court, or escapes.

Also in 2011, VINE responded to nearly three million incoming calls from crime victims and other concerned citizens inquiring about offender status, and registered 1.8 million new users. VINE, which was created in 1994, now provides service in 47 states and Puerto Rico.

The statewide survey and awards program identifies, recognizes and honors the best places to work throughout the commonwealth, benefiting Kentucky’s economy, its workforce and businesses. There are a total of 65 companies on the list.

“We never get tired of being on this list,” said Rick Cartor, Appriss’ vice president of human resources. “A lot of effort and innovation go into making Appriss a place where people want to work. Having that kind of reputation helps us recruit and keep the best employees.”

Appriss and the other winners will be recognized at the Best Places to Work in Kentucky 8^th Annual Awards Dinner on Thursday, April 19, 2012 in Louisville, with specific rankings announced at that event.

“Smartphone technology will help sheriffs’ offices revolutionize how they communicate with their communities,” said Appriss CEO Michael Davis. “Sheriffs are recognizing that social media has a major impact on how people are communicating.  Smartphone technology is transforming the way our society manages information. You have to reach people where they are, and more and more we see that to be their smartphones or tablet computers.”

Appriss will provide this new technology free to sheriffs’ offices that are using the company’s victim notification service, known as VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday). The public will also download the app free of charge.

Once users download the application, they’ll have easy access to information that the sheriff chooses to publish for the community. The app is currently available for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users, with an Android version to be introduced in the first quarter of 2012.

The CEO of Mobile Patrol, Tim Lee, is excited about the opportunity this acquisition provides. “Appriss has a long history of providing technology to sheriffs’ offices and we are excited now about our ability to reach more states and more sheriffs. Our leading-edge mobile technology is a perfect fit with Appriss’ existing relationships and track record of performance.”

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Arkansas was one of the early adopters of the app. To download their app go to www.itunes.com/apps/wcso.

“This app is improving our communication with the community,” said Washington County Sheriff Tim Helder. “We’re able to share important information such as Amber Alerts or crime notifications, and deliver it right to people’s fingertips. It’s a revolutionary way to help us serve the public better.”