AG Announces Inmate Information, Tracking for Crime Survivors, Families and Public

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office is providing inmate tracking information for Oklahomans and victims of crime through the Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) program administered by the AG’s Victim Services Unit.

Oklahoma’s VINE program is a free and anonymous service that allows Oklahomans to register and be notified about changes in the status of Oklahoma inmates.

“By providing information on inmate status, we are increasing victim safety,” said Lesley March, chief of the AG’s Victim Services Unit. “Victims are no longer dependent upon the courthouse being open for them to be notified of the release of a potentially dangerous individual. Knowledge many times translates into power, and with victims of violent crimes, it may mean the difference between life and death.”

The service notifies participants with inmates’ current status information such as general release date, escape, returns from escape, death, out to court and unsupervised custody. VINE offers multiple ways to receive notifications.

The service is available 24 hours a day year-round. Operators who answer the toll-free number are available in English and Spanish to assist victims, their families and the public in registering for VINE. 

The program is provided in county jails and the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. VINE transfers data every 15 minutes from county jails, and DOC and probation and parole data is processed each evening.

To sign up for the VINE program, Oklahomans can log onto www.vinelink.com or call (877) OK4-VINE. 

Ceremonial Signing Held for Victims’ Rights Bill

OKLAHOMA CITY (June 22, 2012) – A ceremonial signing held today recognizes the passage of an important new law that will allow Oklahomans to obtain lifetime victim protective orders, according to the bill’s author, state Rep. Wade Rousselot (D-Okay).

House Bill 2396, authored by Rousselot, extends the time in which a victim protective order remains in effect from three to five years and allows for a continuous victim protective order under certain conditions.

“Oklahoma, along with the rest of the nation is plagued with domestic violence,” said Rousselot. “The victims of this mental and physical abuse are usually, but not always, women. When a victim fears for their safety because of escalating threats or even instances of violent behavior, they seek a form of protection, just as any of us would. A protective order sets boundaries between the victim and their tormentor. If violated, the tormentor goes to prison.”

Rousselot said in order to renew a protective order, a victim has to face their tormentor in court. Extending the length of time in which the order remains in effect and allowing for a continuous protective order in certain cases, places less of a burden on the victim, he said.

“The continuous protective order ensures the victims who have the most egregious tormentors do not have to face them every five years in court in order to renew the order,” said Rousselot.

Gov. Mary Fallin Supports Kickoff of “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Campaign

OKLAHOMA CITY – Law enforcement officers across Oklahoma are joining forces for the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” mobilization from Aug. 19 through Sept. 5, and Gov. Mary Fallin is supporting the campaign against impaired driving.


“We are happy to endorse this important effort,” Fallin said. “Last year in Oklahoma, 245 people died in alcohol-related crashes and more than 6,500 people were injured. These are deaths and injuries that could have been avoided if people had not made the irresponsible choice to drink and drive.”

All 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have established a threshold making it illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 grams per deciliter or higher. The annual nationwide enforcement effort focuses on impaired driving prevention with a goal of reducing roadway fatalities.

“One of the major threats to motorists on our streets and highways is the impaired driver, and that’s one reason the ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ campaign is so important,” Fallin said. “We greatly appreciate the efforts of all the police departments, sheriffs’ offices and highway patrol troops taking part in this effort.”

In 2009, the latest year for which nationwide data is available, nearly 12,000 people died across the U.S. in crashes in which a driver or motorcycle rider was at or over the legal limit, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“All too often, innocent, law-abiding people suffer terrible consequences and the loss of loved ones due to this careless disregard for human life,” said Commissioner Michael C. Thompson of the Department of Public Safety. “In Oklahoma, we’re committed to ending this type of tragedy.”

Law enforcement officers will be on the lookout for impaired drivers 24 hours a day during the mobilization period, which includes the Labor Day holiday weekend.

For more information, visit www.stopimpaireddriving.org.

Governor signs Erin Swezey Act into law

Gov. Mary Fallin has signed The Erin Swezey Act into law.

Erin Swezey

Thursday, the governor approved Senate Bill 529 which is named for the 20-year-old Oklahoma State University student from Edmond who was killed in 2009 by a drunk driver with numerous DUI arrests and convictions.

“Public Safety is a top priority for Oklahoma, and I believe the Erin Swezey Act will help us save lives,” Fallin said. “My own daughter is only a little bit older than Erin would have been. My heart goes out to the Swezeys and all Oklahomans who’ve been victims of drunk drivers. I’m proud to support legislation that will help us prevent such tragedies.”

Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, is principal author of SB 529. He said the bill was requested by Erin’s parents, Keith and Dixie Swezey.

“I am extremely grateful to Governor Fallin for her support of this measure, and to my House author, Representative Jason Nelson, for all of his hard work securing passage of the Erin Swezey Act,” Jolley said. “I also want to express my thanks to Keith and Dixie for bringing this important issue to the forefront, and having the courage to fight for it so that other parents will be spared their loss.”

As of November 1, 2011, an interlock device will be required for 18 months on a first conviction for those with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .15 or higher. For a second or subsequent offense, the interlock will be mandatory for those with a BAC of .08 for a period of four years, and for five years on subsequent offenses. Under the new law, those convicted will have the designation “Interlock Required” on the face of their driver licenses as long as they’re required to have an interlock device.

Visiting with Keith and
Dixie Swezey after final
House vote

“Arizona has a similar law and they’ve reduced drunk driving deaths by 46 percent,” said Nelson, R-Oklahoma City. “I know we will save lives in Oklahoma as well.”

Speaking on behalf of his wife Dixie, Keith Swezey said they were elated that the Erin Swezey Act has been signed into law.

“We are so thankful to Governor Fallin for signing this bill, and to Senator Jolley and Representative Nelson who made its passage a reality,” Swezey said. “The glory belongs to God. We give thanks to Him for our beautiful daughter, and for the enactment of this law which honors her life by helping protect other innocent Oklahomans.”

For more information please visit:

www.erinswezeyact.com

http://www.facebook.com/#!/ErinSwezeyAct or

http://twitter.com/ErinSwezeyAct

Attorney General Calls for Participants in Oklahoma Victim Assistance Academy

Deadline extended to March 24

The second Oklahoma Victim Assistance Academy (OVAA), designed to improve the quality and consistency of services to crime victims in Oklahoma, will be held June 5-10 at East Central University in Ada. Student applications and all required documents must be received by March 24. Scholarships are available to cover registration and all room and board for the academy.

“The Attorney General’s Office is committed to protecting and enforcing the rights of Oklahomans who have been victimized by crime,” Attorney General E. Scott Pruitt said. “I encourage anyone who works to safeguard the rights of crime victims to take the time to attend the victim assistance academy. They will gain a better understanding of the effects of crime and significantly improve their ability to help survivors regain control of their lives.”

The OVAA is an intensive week-long course of study for victim advocates, service providers, law enforcement professionals and social service providers who work directly with crime victims in any capacity in a paid or volunteer position. The academy increases providers’ capacity to serve those victimized by crime, encourages cutting-edge thinking about ways to help victims regain control of their lives and enhances the multidisciplinary training currently provided.

The Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office will select up to 40 candidates to attend the academy. All students who complete the 40-hour training will receive a certificate of completion. Continuing education units (CEU's) have been applied for victim advocates and allied professionals. Academic credit from East Central University or Oklahoma State University–Oklahoma City is available for an additional fee.

Students will complete 20 hours to 40 hours of online course work prior to the academy.

Candidates with less than five years of experience in working with victims are preferred. However, applicants with more than five years of experience are eligible, if they submit written justification why they should be considered for the academy.

Information about the academy and an application can be found online at www.assistvictims.com. Information also is available from Jannason Long at ECU at (580) 559-5859 or jlong@ecok.edu, or from Allyson Carson at the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office at (405) 522-4397 or Allyson.Carson@oag.ok.gov.

The purpose of the Attorney General’s OVAA is to provide comprehensive, academically based, fundamental education and training for victim assistance providers, victim advocates, criminal justice personnel, and allied professionals who routinely serve crime victims.

District Attorneys Recognize Service By Nelson

The Oklahoma District Attorneys Association awarded a Legislative Appreciation Award to Representative Nelson for his support in working to improve the prosecutorial system in Oklahoma. With Rep. Nelson’s support, the public safety system has a voice at the State Capitol.

The association’s membership consists of approximately 1100 individuals, including, district attorneys, investigators, victim witness coordinators and support personnel from all over the State of Oklahoma.