Recently, Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent DeMarco recognized crime victim advocates for the commitment to victims’ services at the County’s new Crime Victims Center.

Staffers at the Center provide vital information and multi-agency service referrals for support and assistance to victims of violent crime. The Crime Victims Center also links victims of violent crime and elderly, minor or disabled victims of crime to the New York State Crime Victims Board for medical and counseling expenses and essential personal property losses.

Laura Ahearn, Executive Director of the Crime Victims Center, thanked Sheriff DeMarco for his recognition of efforts at the Center. She said that “a crime victim’s place in our system of justice must be a priority and not subordinate to any other component. The rights of victims of crime belong to them, and access to these rights and services must be readily available and provided with recognition of individual needs, with dignity and with respect.” She added that “working with supportive and collaborative partners in law enforcement, such as Sheriff DeMarco, we have made significant progress. We can all be proud of what has been accomplished as we move forward to confront the challenges to provide all victims of crime with the support and services they need and are entitled to.”

Sheriff DeMarco also encourages victims to use the New York Sheriff’s Victim Hotline Program (VINE), or access http://www.vinelink.com/ which provides valuable information about their offender’s custody status and notification of release.

“Injustice to victims weakens public safety,” said Sheriff DeMarco. “If victims are too discouraged to report crimes or serve as witnesses, our criminal justice system grinds to a halt. Every American has a stake in victims’ rights.”

Victims of crime have a right to know if their offender is in a New York correctional facility or back on the street. Simply by logging on to the VINE website, or making one toll-free call to 1-888-VINE-4-NY, a victim can immediately learn the custody status of any offender housed in any of New York’s county jails, or New York City or New York State correctional facilities. Also, the New York Sheriffs’ Victim Hotline can automatically notify victims by e-mail or telephone, if the offender’s status changes. This is a crucially important service for victims, their families and friends.