The purpose of the Statewide Victim Notification System is to implement an automated method of providing victims of crime with access to information and notification about changes in offender status and court events twenty-four hours a day. SAVNS provides crime victims with this information via a toll-free number and website. The system operates by networking status information from participating county and state contractors into a central database operated by a private vendor.
The Texas Legislature allocates resources to the OAG to provide assistance in establishing contracts between county/state entities and the central database company.
Crime Victim Notification
If you are the victim of a crime, you have the right to know what's happening with your case and the offender’s custody status.
Your Rights as a Victim
The Texas Constitution provides victims of crime with the right, upon their request, to receive notice about court proceedings and the conviction, sentence, imprisonment, and release of the accused.
Texas Statewide Automated Victim Notification Service (SAVNS)
The Office of Attorney General certifies a vendor to provide the SAVNS for the State of Texas. Texas SAVNS obtains information through an interface with County Jails and Courts throughout Texas. Texas SAVNS is a free and anonymous telephone service that gives victims of crime and concerned citizens up to date information and notifications about offender jail custody status and related court/case events. Texas SAVNS will automatically notify a registered person via telephone, e-mail or text message of suspect/offender status and court event changes. Texas SAVNS will automatically notify a registered person in English or Spanish whenever one of the following situations occurs:
- There is a change in custody status, such as
- The suspect/offender is released from jail or transferred to another facility
- Death or escape of the offender
- A court event has been set or changed
Note: While Texas SAVNS is a valuable informational tool, it isn’t a guarantee of safety.
Visit the VINELink website or call us at (877) TX4-VINE for more information and to register for notification.
For information about offenders who are in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) custody or on parole/mandatory supervision, contact TDCJ Victim Services Division at (800) 848-4284 or by email at [email protected].