Evaluation of the Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification (SAVIN) Program

ICF (formerly Caliber Associates) proposes to conduct a 36-month mixed-method, quasi-experimental tiered evaluation of the implementation and effectiveness of the Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification (SAVIN) programs nationwide with the purpose of developing a promising practices toolkit to assist in the ongoing development and enhancement of victim notification programs. The proposed design will not only answer the core question of how to most effectively implement a notification program, but also what components or enhancements of a program work best, what the program outcomes produce, how programs are most likely to sustain their efforts, and how to most effectively allocate costs. To answer these questions and to deconstruct key elements of these programs, the research team will use a three-tiered design: (1) an Implementation and Process Study, which will provide key background information for the other study components, as well as a typology of SAVIN programs, (2) an Outcome Evaluation, which will involve the collection of data from numerous SAVIN stakeholders ' and most importantly, crime victims/survivors, and (3) a Cost Effectiveness and Sustainability Study, which will result in the identification of best practices, and also the best practices for the price. ICF offers NIJ a multi-disciplinary team of researchers, as well as subject matter experts in the fields of notification and technology, and a team of partners to assist in the widespread dissemination of the toolkit and other findings. Our experience will be critical in guiding this study and informing others employing these programs and providing training and technical assistance to these programs, in making informed decisions about the best way to implement and effectively expand and sustain notification programs.
ca/ncf