New York Sheriffs' Victim Hotline (VINE)

For Offender information, call toll-free:

1-888-VINE-4-NY (1-888-846-3469)

Statewide Victim Assistance And Notification 24 hours a day.

A Message From Erie County Sheriff, Timothy Howard

Many victims live in fear that the criminal offender who victimized them may someday return to do so again. For these victims and their families and friends, it is important to know if that offender is incarcerated in a correctional facility - and to know if and when that offender is released from custody

The New York Sheriff's Victim Hoteline (VINE) is a service through which victims of crime can use the telephone Or Internet to serach for imformation regarding their offender's custody status and register to receive telephone and e-mail Notification when the offender's custody status changes. The VINE toll-free number for New York Sheriff's Victim Hotline is 1-888-VINE-4NY

It has often been difficult for a victim to obtain timely and accurate information about an offender's custody status - information so important to the victim's peace of mind. That is why, as your Sheriff, I am pleased to join with my fellow Sheriffs across the State of New York to implement the Sheriffs' VICTIM HOTLINE. Now with just one toll-free phone call, a citizen can immediately learn the custody status of any offender housed in any of New York's county Jails or other county correctional facilities.

In addition to providing custody status information to callers, the Sheriffs' VICTIM HOTLINE also has an automatic notification feature. Any victim may register with the Sheriffs' VICTIM HOTLINE to be automatically notified if an offender's custody status should change. This feature eliminates the need for a victim to constantly call the Sheriffs' VICTIM HOTLINE to verify the offender's status.

Registration Information

New York Sheriffs' VICTIM HOTLINE facts:

What will the New York Sheriffs' VICTIM HOTLINE do for me?

The New York Sheriffs' VICTIM HOTLINE will tell you if an offender is in jail or prison in the State of New York and will give you other important custody information. The VICTIM HOTLINE will also let you leave a phone number where you want to be notified when the offender is released, transferred, or escapes.

What do I need to do?

  1. Call 1-888-846-3469 from a touch-tone phone and follow the directions. The victim hotline will tell you the custody status of the offender.
  2. If the offender is in custody, you can leave a phone number where you want to be notified when there is a change in the offender's custody status. Enter the area code and phone number, followed by the pound (#) key.
  3. When the victim hotline asks, make up and enter a four-digit personal identification number (pin) code that will easy for you to remember if you can write this number down. The new york sheriffs' victim hotline will ask for the pin code when it calls you.
  4. When the new york sheriffs' victim hotline calls, listen to the message, then enter your pin when asked. Entering the pin lets the victim hotline know that you got the call.

Victim Assistance Services in New York

Note: Do not depend solely on the Sheriffs' VICTIM HOTLINE service for your protection. If you feel that you may be at risk, take precautions as if the offender has already been released.

A service of the New York State Sheriffs' Association Institute Inc.; funded by the New York State Crime Victims Board.