The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services (OVSRS) deployed a new Automated Email Notification Service for crime victims.
The purpose of the new system is to allow victims and their family members to register for services, including notifications of an offender’s release 90 days in advance, immediate alerts on the escape or death of an offender, and updates regarding collection of court-ordered restitution.
Prior to implementing the system, the department utilized the Victim Information and Notification Everyday service, also referred to as VINE. VINE is a national notification network created by Kentucky-based Appriss. While it's been OVSRS's go-to service the last five years, the agency plans to discontinue its use effective Dec. 31.
OVSRS Assistant Chief Katie James told Techwire the move isn't without its benefits.
“The data in the email from our new service will be more expansive,” James said. “[The email] will have information about when the offender will go on parole or probation, as well as phone numbers, contact information and other resources.”
The new victim notification system was built in-house using the state's Strategic Offender Management System (SOMS).
CDCR finished the SOMS project in 2014, replacing 40 of department's disparate legacy applications, such as the Distributed Data Processing System and the Offender Based Information System, with a single consolidated solution.
Building the new tool in-house using SOMS adds more flexibility to make changes to the system and offers more quality data control, James said. She also noted it's set up to provide real-time information directly from the System of Record.
SOMS is currently managed by HP Enterprise Services under a $116.5 million contract approved in 2014.
As a result of implementing the state-built solution, the agency anticipates a cost savings of approximately $20,000 per month.
OVSRS encourages victims to register for the automated notification email system. To do so, users can submit an application via the e1707 online form released earlier this year.
