PA SAVIN: Ensuring Crime Victims aren’t Victimized Again

By District Attorney Katie Charlton, Armstrong County District Attorney

Pennsylvania’s District Attorneys are committed to helping crime victims receive justice and find resources for healing. A major focus of that commitment is ensuring that survivors are not victimized again, especially by the criminal justice system.

Twenty years ago, Pennsylvania took an important step in protecting crime victims by creating the Pennsylvania Statewide Automated Information and Notification System (PA SAVIN). The system informs crime victims about the status of an offender in the justice system.

Before SAVIN, there were stories about victims being shocked to see the person who hurt them shopping in local grocery store or fueling up at a local gas station. They thought the offender was behind bars. No one alerted them to the offender’s release.

SAVIN is designed to stop that.

The system allows victims to register to receive information by phone, text, email or on an app when an offender is released, moved, or escapes. This applies to offenders in county jails, state prisons, or on state parole.

SAVIN is a joint project between the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Institute (PDAI) and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). PDAI is the training arm of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association (PDAA).

PDAA is proud of the role district attorneys play in supporting victims. In addition to SAVIN, PDAA has taken a lead role in supporting Child Advocacy Centers, which are designed to assist child victims in their journey through the justice system. Many district attorneys’ offices also have victim/witness coordinators to ensure victims do not get lost in the system – or worse, forgotten.

PA SAVIN is free of charge. An offender will not know if a victim is registered for the service. SAVIN also offers other victim services, such as helping victims find counseling services or compensation.

Crime can steal a victim’s sense of control but knowing that they will be informed about any changes involving their perpetrator helps to give that control back. We owe it to victims to restore their confidence in a justice system that puts them first.

To learn more about SAVIN or to register for the service, go to the Pennsylvania Office of Victim Services. Or you could call PA SAVIN at 1-866-972-7284.