Crime Victim Notification Now Textable To Cellphones

Attorney General Lisa Madigan Monday announced that the state’s Automated Victim Notification  system has begun text-message alerts to track an offenders' custody and court case status. The system includes alerts when an offender is released, transferred or appears in court to crime victims, witnesses, family members, law enforcement officers, probation officers and concerned community members.

The system, which transfers information to a centralized communication center to generate individual alerts, provides updates about offenders in 101 Illinois counties. Cook County maintains its own notification system. A federal Statewide Victim Information and Notification grant allowed the state to implement the new texting option. Users will be charged whatever rate they have with their mobile providers.

“For crime victims and their families, information provides peace of mind,” said Madigan. “Adding text alerts to the Automated Victim Notification system gives families one more way to ensure they stay informed.”

Victims and the public can access AVN by calling 1-866-5-NOTIFY (1-866-566-8439) or visiting
 https://www.vinelink.com/vinelink/siteInfoAction.do?siteId=14004