LAPLACE – The St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s office reminds the public that true “justice for all” can only be achieved when crime victims are afforded their rights to information, notification and protection.

Nationally, there are more than 10,000 community and system-based victim assistance programs that promote justice through service to crime victims, including over 40 in Louisiana.

One of those is the VINE program, or Victim Information and Notification Everyday, which currently operates in 1,500 communities in 39 states.

Initiated in St. John Parish in April 2004, and co-sponsored by the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement, VINE allows victims to confidentially access information about the status of their offenders, and provides automated telephone or e-mail notification of releases or transfer from the St. John Parish Prison.

According to Sheriff Wayne L. Jones, the VINE program promotes justice by providing a critical service to victims that enhances their personal safety, and helps them make informed choices related to their cases and offenders.

VINE is a public service available free to concerned citizens. To register for VINE, a toll-free number, 1-888-528-6748, is available to call to locate an offender in jail, or to register for notification.

Those with internet access can go to www.stjohnsheriff.org/lavns.html.

For additional information on the VINE program in St. John the Baptist Parish, please call the sheriff’s office at 985-652-9513.