Meet the Essential Program that Keeps Crime Victims Safe and Aware

March 10, 2025

Every year, a low-profile automated system operated by the Idaho Sheriff’s Association sends out hundreds of thousands of notifications to victims of crime living in all corners of the state. These notifications may be a reminder of an upcoming court date or a change in the custody status of an offender. Notifications are served to victims on multiple platforms, from old-style telephone calls to emails, texts, or app alerts.  

It's a system that, for the last three decades, has sought to benefit crime victims, encourage their engagement in the criminal justice process, and ensure their safety. And last year, more than 75,000 new Idahoans registered to receive the timely updates.  

So, what are we talking about here? It’s Idaho VINE, an acronym for the Victim Information and Notification service. Introduced in Idaho in 1994, the same year voters approved the Crime Victims’ Rights Amendment, VINE provides free, confidential notifications to victims, their families, or concerned citizens.  

“I think it’s very impactful, very helpful to those who register for this,” said Tammara Tarvin, Programs Manager for the Idaho Sheriff’s Association and the manager of the VINE network. “I think knowledge is power, and as a former victim witness coordinator, I know that talking to victims helped them better understand the process, what is happening around them. VINE is an extension of that communication in a way that it provides key information when they need to know it.” 

The VINE network was created in 1994 by a Kentucky company in response to the murder of a woman named Mary Byron, who was killed by her former boyfriend shortly after he was released from custody. When he was released on bail, nobody notified Byron, her family, or law enforcement. The VINE alert system was designed to fill that void, with victim safety in mind through the power of information.  

Statistics provided by Tarvin show that there are currently more than 172,500 people registered in Idaho’s VINE system, a total that is up more than 30,000 since 2021. As for notifications last year, the system sent out more than 19,300 via telephone and more than 23,000 through the app. The top platforms by far are emails, with more than 190,000 notifications sent, and text, with nearly 315,000 in 2024.  

The Idaho network also provides alerts in Spanish, and multiple other languages are available for registrants who are willing to call in for a translated message. Currently, VINE doesn’t provide for notifications once an offender enters the probation and parole phase of the sentence. However, probation and parole staff are authorized to provide notifications to victims.  

In the future, Tarvin says the plan is to begin offering notification services to those who file applications for civil protection orders. We’ll keep you posted when this is up and running.  

Matthew Hebb, State Director, Marsy’s Law for Idaho