Victim Impact

New York Sheriffs’ Victim Hotline

1-888-VINE-4-NY (1-888-846-3469)

Statewide Victim Assistance & Notification 24 – Hours A Day

Many victims live in fear that the criminal offender who victimized them may someday return to do so again. For these victims and their families and friends, it is important to know if that offender is incarcerated in a correctional facility – and to know if and when that offender is released from custody.

It has often been difficult for a victim to obtain timely and accurate information about an offender’s custody status – information so important to the victim’s peace of mind. That is why the Saratoga County Sheriff has joined with his fellow Sheriffs across the State of New York to implement the New York Sheriffs’ VICTIM HOTLINE. Now with just one toll-free phone call, a citizen can immediately learn the custody status of any offender housed in any of New York’s county jails or other county correctional facilities.

In addition to providing custody status information to callers, the New York Sheriffs’ VICTIM HOTLINE also has an automatic notification feature. Any victim can register with the New York Sheriffs’ VICTIM HOTLINE to be automatically notified if an offender’s custody status should change. This feature eliminates the need for a victim to constantly call the Sheriffs’ VICTIM HOTLINE to verify the offender’s status.

Victim Assistance Services in New York State

New York State Crime Victims Board: 1-800-247-8035

New York Sheriffs’ VICTIM HOTLINE: 1-888-846-3469

Mothers Against Drunk Driving: 1-800-245-6233

New York State Domestic Violence Hotline:

English: 1-800-942-6906

Spanish: 1-800-942-6908

New York State Elder Abuse Hotline: 1-800-342-3009

New York State Parole Victim Impact Unit: 1-518-486-4400, 1-800-639-2650

New York State Sex Offender Registry: 1-900-288-3838

Rape Crisis Services: 1-800-342-5767

Facts about the New York Sheriffs’ VICTIM HOTLINE

• The offender will not know you are registered with the New York Sheriffs’ VICTIM HOTLINE
• If you are not at home, the New York Sheriffs’ VICTIM HOTLINE will leave a message on an answering machine. If there is no answer, the hotline will keep calling back until you enter your PIN code or until 48 hours have passed.
• Since the New York Sheriffs’ VICTIM HOTLINE calls automatically when an offender’s custody status changes, you may get a notification call in the middle of the night.
• Do not leave a phone number with the New York Sheriffs’ VICTIM HOTLINE that rings to a switchboard unless the switchboard operator has your PIN code to confirm the message.
• The New York Sheriffs’ VICTIM HOTLINE monitors offenders in New York’s County Jails, the New York City Department of Correction and the New York State Department of Correctional Services.
• Do not depend solely on the New York Sheriffs’ VICTIM HOTLINE, or any other single program, for you protection. Make the New York Sheriffs’ VICTIM HOTLINE part of your safety plan.
• You can leave more that one phone number with the New York Sheriffs’ VICTIM HOTLINE. Just call the VICTIM HOTLINE again.

How to Sign Up…

• Call 1-888-VINE-4-NY (1-888-846-3469) from a touch-tone phone and follow the directions. The VICTIM HOTLINE will tell you the custody status of the offender.
• If the offender is in custody, you can leave a phone number where you want to be notified when there is a change in the offender’s custody status. Enter the area code and phone number, followed by the pound (#) key.
• When the VICTIM HOTLINE asks, make up and enter a four-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) code that will be easy for you to remember. You can write this number down for reference. The New York Sheriffs’ VICTIM HOTLINE will ask for the PIN code when it calls you.
• When the New York Sheriffs’ VICTIM HOTLINE calls, listen to the message, then enter your PIN when asked. Entering the PIN lets the VICTIM HOTLINE know that you got the call.