This publication provides information about the use of automated victim notification (AVN) systems in the criminal justice system.
This brief provides an overview of the functionality and importance of automated victim notification (AVN) systems, highlighting their role in providing timely and accurate updates to crime victims. It also aims to assess and showcase the distinct features and technological innovations offered by various AVN vendors that enhance both the user experience and the overall effectiveness of these systems. Additionally, this brief seeks to identify the implementation challenges faced by AVN systems to ensure that they are victim-centered, inclusive, and technically robust, addressing the specific needs of all users. Victims of crime are legally entitled to timely and accurate updates regarding their offenders’ court events and status changes, including custody shifts, court dates, and parole hearings. These notifications also cover AVN systems used during pre-arrest investigations, after arrests, and in probation processes that are separate from criminal investigations. To facilitate information sharing, criminal justice agencies have adopted AVN systems, which integrate with an agency’s databasing system, such as a record management system (RMS), to automatically disseminate relevant status updates to victims through various channels, including emails, phone calls, text messages, or messages via a software application or portal. AVN systems can provide victims and co-victims with timely and accurate updates on offender status changes while also streamlining information flow for criminal justice agencies, including law enforcement, corrections departments, and district attorney’s offices. Victim advocates highlight that many AVN systems fail to meet victim needs, regardless of the vendor used. Victims frequently face difficulties accessing the system and may receive incorrect updates or no updates at all, which can have serious safety and well-being implications. Effectively configuring and maintaining AVN systems is a challenging endeavor, but these systems are critical for supporting victims’ safety and well-being.
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