Florida VERN

A new system providing enhanced end-to-end victim notification, powered by VINE® & Versaterm CommunityConnect™, starting at the 911 call, at no cost to your agency

Expanding Notifications: Adding Notifications Starting at the 911 Call

VINE is committed to supporting victim notification as early as possible. In collaboration with Versaterm, victim notifications can be expanded to begin at the time of the 911 call or incident, offering support and resources before an arrest is made, with continuing Florida VINE notification service to inform victims of offender custody status changes.

Your partnership is crucial to the success of the Florida VERN program.

 

What is Florida VERN?

Florida VERN is a new expanded victim notification program that starts with the incident call, with continued victim notification throughout the criminal justice process. The expanded service is provided alongside Florida VINE to provide an end-to-end notification workflow across the experience of victims and survivors. VINE is a state-funded service and the nation’s leading victim notification service. It allows survivors, victims of crime, and other concerned citizens to access timely and reliable information about offenders or criminal cases in U.S. jails and prisons.

Features of Florida VERN include:

  • Automated, near-real time mobile updates are delivered as local law enforcement is dispatched to a location, keeping waiting callers informed and reassured
  • A Service Provider Directory provides local and national resources to help victims and survivors navigate the criminal justice process and receive other support for mental health and other community services
  • Case information and other investigative details keep victims and survivors updated as the case progresses
  • Short, mobile-friendly surveys sent to community members provide information and insight that enable agencies to assess and improve their response

Why register your agency?

Proven Results 

From agency communications, to community engagement and custody status notifications, together VINE and Versaterm offer over 60 years of combined experience in public safety. 

Implementation in just a few steps

VINE and Versaterm’s implementation teams stand at the ready to assist in enabling the Florida VERN in your agency and jurisdiction. 

About this expansion

Recurring funding has been provided through Florida Legislature Appropriation 701 to continue with the VINE service and to expand services to include notification from the initial point of contact with the criminal justice system – the 911 call. For police departments, county sheriff’s offices, and state’s attorneys, this service is funded for early phase participants, with efforts to expand the service throughout the state of Florida, pending additional funding. Once operational, the service is fully automated, with no additional resources required. The VINE & Versaterm teams are registering localities now for immediate early phase implementation, as well as additional participants for later phases of the project. Interested jurisdictions should register their interest in participating – click on Get Started to register.

Enhanced End-to-End Victim Notification 

From the incident through the criminal justice process
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VINE & Versaterm

  • An expansive and collaborative workflow to support victims of crime
  • Notifications from the incident to investigation to arrest and throughout custody
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Comprehensive User Experience

  • Early notification between incident and arrest 
  • Notification continues from offender booking through the criminal justice process
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Integration Within and Across Existing Systems

  • Computer-aided Dispatch Systems
  • Case Management Systems
  • Jail Management Systems
  • Record Management Systems

Victims and survivors may call a toll-free number, visit www.vinelink.com, or use the VINELink mobile app to anonymously check on an offender's custody status.

VINE users can also register to receive automated notifications about changes in custody status via their choice of delivery method: in-app, phone, email, text, or TTY (hearing impaired) service. Using

VINE is simple, and it provides agencies and law enforcement with a consistent and reliable way to ensure victims, survivors, and concerned citizens can be properly informed about the status of an individual.
 

EXPLORE BLOGS, ARTICLES, AND NEWS ABOUT VINE

VINE Custody Notification

Florida offers offender custody search and notifications through the VINE Service.

More on VINE

VINE has supported victims and survivors with timely notifications since 1994.

Mary Byron’s story

Learn about the woman that inspired VINE. 

Frequently Asked Questions

There is minimal work on the agency side, and Florida VERN can be up and running for your county in less than 90 days.

Florida and the VINE and Versaterm team can provide training to agency staff and marketing support as part of the existing state marketing program for VINE.

Get Started With Florida VERN

Register your interest
Get Started