Sec. 2. (a) The department shall establish an automated victim notification system that must do the following:
(1) Automatically notify a registered crime victim when a committed offender who committed the crime against the victim:
(A) is assigned to a:
(i) department facility; or
(ii) county jail or any other facility not operated by the department;
(B) is transferred to a:
(i) department facility; or
(ii) county jail or any other facility not operated by the department;
(C) is given a different security classification;
(D) is released on temporary leave;
(E) is discharged;
(F) has escaped;
(G) has a change in the committed offender’s expected date of release from incarceration;
(H) is scheduled to have a parole release hearing;
(I) has requested clemency or pardon consideration;
(J) is to be placed in a minimum security:
(i) facility; or
(ii) work release program;
or is permitted to participate in another minimum security assignment; or
(K) dies during the committed offender’s period of incarceration.
(2) Allow a registered crime victim to receive the most recent status report for an offender by calling the automated victim notification system on a toll free telephone number.
(3) Allow a crime victim to register or update the victim’s registration for the automated victim notification system by calling a toll free telephone number.
(b) For purposes of subsection (a), a sheriff responsible for the operation of a county jail shall immediately notify the department if a committed offender:
(1) is transferred to another county jail or another facility not operated by the department of correction;
(2) is released on temporary leave;
(3) is discharged; or
(4) has escaped.
Sheriffs and other law enforcement officers and prosecuting attorneys shall cooperate with the department in establishing and maintaining an automated victim notification system.
(c) An automated victim notification system may transmit information to a person by:
(1) telephone;
(2) electronic mail; or
(3) another method as determined by the department.
(d) The department shall provide the opportunity for a registered crime victim to receive periodic status reports concerning the committed offender who committed the crime against the registered crime victim, including reports stating:
(1) the committed offender’s projected date of release from imprisonment;
(2) the facility where the committed offender is imprisoned; and
(3) the current security classification of the committed offender.
(e) A registered crime victim may choose to receive a status report described in subsection (d):
(1) annually;
(2) quarterly;
(3) monthly; or
(4) when triggered by an event described in subsection (a)(1).
As added by P.L.64-2005, SEC.4. Amended by P.L.147-2012, SEC.1.