Texas Department of Criminal Justice Victim Services Division Annual Report: 2011 Page: 8
This report is part of the collection entitled: Texas State Publications and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
if
i icy 2 01 1 h4/g/hUgts/
During FY 2011, the VSD continued to
provide constitutionally and statutorily
mandated services, while seeking ways to
enhance services and increase knowledge
of and accessibility to those services.
The VSD is tasked with providing services
in a financially efficient way. Like most
state agencies, the division experienced
a decrease in its allocated budget for FY
2012, and began preparing for the reduc-
tion during FY 2011. Even though the
division faced fiscal challenges, the VSD
continues to provide constitutionally and
statutorily mandated services to crime
victims and concerned citizens.
The Victim Notification section began the
transition of producing the automated
written notifications with Appriss, Inc.,
provider of the VINE system. This web-
based system allows the VSD to more effi-
ciently provide notification services. It will
also allow the VSD to enhance services by
generating VNS notifications via e-mail.
The VNS registrants will be able to choose
to receive notifications by letter, e-mail or
both.
Many bills were passed during the 82nd
Legislative Session that will impact crime
victims and the criminal justice system -
some directly impacted the VSD and the
crime victims served by the division.House Bill (HB) 1028 allows a convicting
court to prohibit the defendant from con-
tacting the victim or a member of the vic-
tim's family, during the defendant's term
of confinement or imprisonment, as part
of the sentence. This bill also provides pro-
visions that direct theTDCJ to forfeit all or
part of the offender's accrued good time,
if an offender contacts the victim, and al-
lows the TxBPP to consider whether the
offender violated a policy adopted by the
TDCJ under Section 498.0042(a), Govern-
ment Code or under Art. 42.24, Code of
Criminal Procedure (CCP). If the defen-
dant is in the custody of a sheriff, the bill
allows a sheriff to take part or all of the de-
fendant's commutation away. TheVSD is
working with the TDCJ Correctional Insti-
tutions Division regarding the implemen-
tation of this bill - and further information
will be available in FY 2012.
HB 2124 transferred the responsibility
of victim notification to the clerk of the
court, when the court is issuing an order
that requires the release of an acquitted
person on discharge or on a regimen of
outpatient care. The statute directs the
clerk of the court to inspect the VIS or oth-
er information made available to the court
for the purpose of notification.
The VIS is a form used by a crime victim
to detail and record the emotional andpsychological impact, physical injury, and
economic loss a crime has had on a victim
and their family members. This form is
considered by law enforcement agencies,
court personnel, probation departments,
the TDCJ VSD and the TxBPP in many
stages of the criminal justice system. The
TxCVC is mandated, in conjunction with
the TDCJ Community Justice Assistance
Division (CJAD) and the TxBPP, to revise
the VIS after every legislative session. The
new VIS and VIS Activity Report can be
viewed and downloaded from the TDCJ
website. (www.tdcj.state.tx.us).
In an effort to maintain financially effi-
cient services, the VSD now provides The
Victim's Informer newsletter electronically.
Subscribers can either provide their e-mail
address or download the quarterly news-
letter from the TDCJ website.
(www.tdcj.state.tx.us)TDCJ VSD A vaua report
8
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This report can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Report.
Texas. Victim Services Division. Texas Department of Criminal Justice Victim Services Division Annual Report: 2011, report, 2011~; Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth624578/m1/8/?q=%222010-09-01%2F2011-08-31%22: accessed July 3, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.