Victim Notification
A crime victim may want to be notified of the offender’s custody status after the offender has been convicted and sentenced to a county jail or correctional facility.  Minnesota Statutes § 611A provides that victims of crime have certain post-conviction notification rights.

The right to be notified of an offender's:

• release
• transfer
• escape
• apprehension
• death 

The following information is to help crime victims receive notification of custody status and releases.

Notification for offenders incarcerated at a county jail or detention center

The process of victim notification for offenders incarcerated in a county jail or detention center varies. Contact the specific county jail or detention center for information on these offenders and the notification process. 

Contact Karin Ehlert, Office of Justice Programs, 651-201-7316 for more information about county VINE services.

Notification for offenders incarcerated at a Minnesota Department of Corrections adult or juvenile facility

The Department of Corrections must make a good-faith effort to notify the victim when an offender is being released from custody, including release on furlough (juveniles only) or for work release,  release from a juvenile facility or release from a facility after confinement because of incompetence or mental illness.  The good-faith effort must occur 60 days before an offender’s release.  

The Department of Corrections must also make a good-faith effort to notify the victim when an offender’s custody status is reduced and he or she is transferred to a less secure facility or if an offender escapes and when apprehended.

In order to be notified, however, a victim must send a written request for notification to the Commissioner of Corrections.  Victim Notification Request Form
 
Information in the Request Form is private and will not be disclosed to the offender. If a victim moves, he or she should complete an additional Victim Notification Request Form and send it to the Department of Corrections to ensure that future notification will occur.  A victim who sends a written request for notification to the Department of Corrections also must register directly with VINE to be notified by the automated system.

Notification in parole and life review proceedings

A “life sentence review” hearing is held when an offender serving a life sentence becomes eligible for parole.  A victim’s family has the right to provide input at the hearing, either in writing, in person or through a community supervision agent. The purpose of the hearing is to provide information to the Commissioner of Corrections regarding the offender’s release.

The Department of Corrections will make a good-faith effort to locate a victim’s family to notify them of the hearing and the opportunity to provide input.  A victim’s family should provide current contact information to the Department of Corrections so they can be located prior to the scheduled review hearing date.

For more information regarding life sentence review hearings, contact Lydia Newlin, Minnesota Department of Corrections, 651.361.7249.

Community notification for predatory offenders

Minnesota Statutes § 244.052 and .053 provide victims of adult predatory offenders with additional notification.  A victim of a predatory offender must send a written request for notification to the Commissioner of Corrections Victim Notification Request Form.  The victim will then receive information from local law enforcement about the offender’s release and approximate residence. 

If a victim has sent a written Victim Notification Request form to the Commissioner of Corrections when the offender was first incarcerated, that request will be sent to law enforcement on behalf of the victim. A victim will also be notified, prior to the release of the offender, by the Department of Corrections of the option to not have their contact information sent to local law enforcement and not be notified of the offender’s approximate residence.

In addition, certain community groups and members are notified, by local law enforcement, of the offender’s release from custody, the offender’s approximate residence and the offender’s risk level assignment.  Community notification requirements may continue for 10 years or longer if the offender is required to register for a longer period of time.

For more information about predatory offenders and community notification, please contact the Risk Assessment and Community Notification Unit, Minnesota Department of Corrections, 651.361.7275, the Victim Assistance Program, Minnesota Department of Corrections, 800.657.3830 or the offender’s case manager.  The offender’s case manager can be located at the Offender Locator

VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday)

VINE is an anonymous telephone service that offers callers the option of inquiring about an offender’s custody status and receiving telephone notification when an offender is released or escapes.

VINE is available to callers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  A live operator is available at VINE at all times to assist callers with questions. 

Who can use VINE?

A victim, a victim’s family or friends, work colleagues and neighbors can use VINE.  VINE may also be used by criminal justice professionals.

What kinds of crimes are included in VINE?

VINE can provide information about offenders in custody for committing felonies and misdemeanors, including homicide, sexual assault, domestic assault, property crimes, drug crimes and drunk-driving crimes.

How can VINE be used to locate an offender?

To use the VINE system, call 877.MN.4.VINE (877.664.8463) from a touch-tone phone and follow a series of simple, clear prompts. 

A caller will be asked to enter either the offender’s first and last names or the offender’s identification number on the touch-pad of the telephone.  The system will then locate the offender, if in custody, and relay information about the offender’s status and custody location. 

Is VINE available on the Internet?

Information about offenders in custody in Minnesota and other states is available at the VINELINK website at www.vinelink.com.

For questions concerning the DOC VINE service, contact Maria Alderink, Minnesota Department of Corrections, 651.361.7248 (Maria.Alderink@state.mn.us).

For questions concerning VINE in Minnesota, contact Suzanne Elwell, Minnesota Office of Justice Programs, Crime Victim Services, 651.201.7312 (Suzanne.Elwell@state.mn.us).