FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE :   Tuesday, June 18, 2013
CONTACT:  Sara Rabern (605)773-3215   

 
Attorney General Jackley Creates Advisory Commission to Oversee the Implementation of New Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification (SAVIN) Program

PIERRE, S.D  -   Attorney General Marty Jackley has announced today the addition of the Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification (SAVIN) Program to South Dakota. With the passage of Senate Bill 70, came the creation of this program that will benefit crime victims and those that serve them. The South Dakota SAVIN Program is a free, automated service that provides crime victims with vital information and notification 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This service will allow victims to obtain offender information and to register for notification of a change in offender status. Such information may include important hearing, trial or sentencing dates, as well as changes in bond conditions or release from custody. Legislators of the 2013 legislative session allocated $790,000 for this project’s two year development process.  

Attorney General Jackley has appointed several individuals throughout the state to participate in a SAVIN Advisory Commission.  The Commission will work to plan, create and implement the most effective services necessary to best serve the victims in South Dakota.

“SAVIN presents the opportunity to provide both victims and defendant’s family members timely information to assist them through what is often a difficult process. I thank the committee members and encourage them to develop a system that saves taxpayer resources by avoiding duplication and to bring greater transparency to government action in the criminal process,” said Jackley.

The following have agreed to serve as part of the advisory commission:
  
Chief Matt Betzen- Vermillion Police Department
Kathy Christenson- Unified Judicial System
Ben Dunsmoor- Media
Dawn Elshire- Codington County State’s Attorney
Laurie Feiler- Department of Corrections
Krista HeerenGraber- SD Network
John Hult- Media
Jeanie Hutmacher- Victim representative
Chris Jongeling- SD Coalition
Lori Martinec- Department of Social Services
Tatewin Means- Oglala Sioux Tribe Attorney General
Sheila Pirring- Defendant representative
Sara Rabern- Attorney General’s Office
Sheriff Kevin Thom- Pennington County Sheriff’s Office

If you have any additional questions contact Sara Rabern at (605)773-3215.

 
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