Crime victims in Mississippi will have a new automated notification system to keep abreast of incarcerated offenders, reports the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. The Mississippi Department of Corrections received a $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance to provide a Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification system. MDOC Commissioner Christopher Epps today will unveil the system that is already operating in 16 counties.
Once a victim is registered with MDOC, he or she will be notified of anything happening with the offender, including making bond, moves or any status change, Epps said. A victim will be notified via an automated telephone system or by e-mail. There are currently 3,000 victims registered with MDOC. Prior to the statewide automated system, victims had go onto MDOC's Web site and look up the information on an offender, Epps said.
Link: http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080730/NEWS/80730003