Resources

Victim Information & Notification Everyday (VINE)

Toll-Free: 1-877-MN-4-VINE
Website:   http://www.vinelink.com

VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) is a free and anonymous telephone service that provides victims of crime two important features: information and notification.  The Minnesota VINE Service is provided by the Minnesota Office of Justice Programs.

VINE monitors the custody status of offenders in the Department of Corrections as well as county detention facilities.  This information is stored at the VINE Communications Center in Louisville, KY.

Information is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  This service is available in English and Spanish and it is supported by 24-hour live operator assistance.

Data Transfer Schedule

VINE receives updated information every 15 minutes from county jails and on a daily schedule from the Minnesota Department of Corrections jail management system.

Information

Anyone may call the Minnesota VINE Service to determine the custody status of an offender.  Callers will need a touch-tone telephone to use the service.  To search for offender information through VINE, callers will need to provide one or more of the following:

• Offender Name or Alias
      Secondary search options if there is more than one offender with the same name:
• Middle Initial
• Incident Date
• Date of Birth
• Arresting Agency
• Offender Identification Number

Information provided when calling the VINE Service:

• Current offender custody status
• Offender identification number (if search by name)
• Housing location
• Scheduled release information
• Sentence expiration date (DOC)
• List of victim service agencies for additional assistance

Registration

For custody status change notifications, crime victims and the general public may register directly with VINE by calling the toll-free number using a touch-tone telephone, or by visiting http://www.vinelink.com/ and clicking on Minnesota.  Upon locating the offender, they will need to provide the following information in order to register with VINE:

• A telephone number, including area code, where they can be reached for notification
• A 4-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN)

If victims move or change their phone number, they must update their phone number by calling the VINE line.

Notification

Unless otherwise noted, notification calls begin as soon as the VINE Communications Center receives updated records from the on-site booking computers.  Notification calls to registered persons will be made when one or more of the following occur:

Normal:  Calls will be made every 30 minutes for 48 hours or until the correct PIN is entered to confirm and stop the notification calls.  If a call is answered by not confirmed, subsequent calls will be made every 2 hours for 48 hours.  Notification messages will be left on an answering machine, but calls will continue every 2 hours for 48 hours.

Non-Emergency:  Calls will be made every 30 minutes between the hours of 7 am and 9 pm for 48 hours or until the correct PIN is entered.  If the call is answered but not confirmed, subsequent calls will be made every 2 hours for 48 hours.  Notification messages will be left on an answering machine, but calls will continue every 2 hours for 48 hours.

Non-Emergency Delayed for Death:  Calls will be made every 30 minutes between the hours of 7 am and 9 pm for 48 hours or until the correct PIN is entered.  If the call is answered but not confirmed, subsequent calls will be made every 2 hours for 48 hours.  Notification messages will be left on an answering machine, but calls will continue every 2 hours for 48 hours.  Notification will be delayed by 24 hours from the time the record is received to allow for family notification.

Non-Emergency Delayed for Transfers (County Jails):  Calls will be made every 30 minutes between the hours of 7 am and 9 pm for 48 hours or until the correct PIN is entered.  If the call is answered but not confirmed, subsequent calls will be made every 2 hours for 48 hours.  Notification messages will be left on an answering machine, but calls will continue every 2 hours for 48 hours.  Notification will take place 4 hours from the time the discharge record is received.

Non-Emergency Delayed for Transfers (DOC):  Calls will be made every 30 minutes between the hours of 7 am and 9 pm for 48 hours or until the correct PIN is entered.  If the call is answered but not confirmed, subsequent calls will be made every 2 hours for 48 hours.  Notification messages will be left on an answering machine, but calls will continue every 2 hours for 48 hours.  Notification will be delayed 12 hours from the time the discharge record is received.

Advanced Notification of Scheduled Release (DOC):  Calls will be made every 30 minutes between the hours of 7 am and 9 pm for 48 hours or until the correct PIN is entered.  If the call is answered but not confirmed, subsequent calls will be made every 2 hours for 48 hours.  Notification messages will be left on an answering machine, but calls will continue every 2 hours for 48 hours.  Calls will begin 14 days prior to the expected date of the event.

Caller ID

NOTE: For telephones with caller ID or anonymous call block, a notification call from VINE will show up as a telephone number with a "502" area code.  This number will not be answered when called, but is only used for purposes of getting the notification through when anonymous calls are blocked.

Order for Protection

A court Order for Protection may include:

• An order restraining an abuser from further acts of abuse;
• An order directing an abuser to leave your household;
• An order preventing an abuser from entering your home, school, business, or place of employment;
• An order awarding you or the other parent custody of or visitation with your minor child or children;
• An order directing an abuser to pay support to you and the minor children if the abuser has a court order to do so.

The process to obtain an Order for Protection in Carver County starts at the Court Administration Office located at the Justice Center Building.  The Court Administration Office has all the necessary forms and can answer any questions.  The main number for Court Administration is (952) 361-1420.

For more information on Orders for Protection, download the Order for Protection Pamphlet (135 KB)

For more information on the legal system, please visit http://www.womenslaw.org/

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