HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 26 PCCD-PA-SAVIN-anniv.
HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Eight counties have marked the first anniversary of the Pennsylvania Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification (PA SAVIN) system, according to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
PA SAVIN allows Pennsylvanians - including victims of crime, their family members, law enforcement and the community at large - to register to be notified of an offender's release, transfer or escape from a county prison. Notification can be made at any time by telephone or e-mail.
Since August of last year, 2,372 phone notifications and 2,571 e-mail notifications have been sent to those who have registered with PA SAVIN in the 39 counties where it is currently available.
"We couldn't be happier with PA SAVIN," said Erie County District Attorney Brad Foulk, chairman of PCCD's Targeted Community Revitalization and Crime Prevention Advisory Committee. Erie County was the first to join the system.
"Previously we used a manual system that was coordinated with our county prison, the crime victim center and my office, which was very cumbersome and not as effective as PA SAVIN," Foulk said. "When we learned of PA SAVIN, we saw it as a great opportunity, and we've had positive feedback from victims and victim advocates in our county."
Erie, Mifflin, Venango, Montgomery, Washington, Pike, Clinton and Centre counties were the first to introduce PA SAVIN. By the end of this year, all 63 counties that have jails are expected to be online.
PA SAVIN is a joint project of PCCD and the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Institute. Pennsylvania is one of 13 states to receive funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance within the U.S. Department of Justice to launch a statewide notification program.
As the state's justice planning agency, PCCD is dedicated to preventing and reducing crime in Pennsylvania and responding to the needs of victims. PCCD collaborates with the Governor's office, federal, state and local officials, juvenile and criminal justice agencies, victim service agencies, community-based organizations, non-profits, schools and others to achieve these goals.
For more information about PCCD, visit www.pccd.state.pa.us.
CONTACT:
Tara Mead
(717) 265-8470
SOURCE Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency
