Jail / prison

For someone who is unsure when a prisoner will be released and wants to know, the VINE program (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) may be able to notify the victim of the crime when the prisoner is about to be released. The VINE website (that we are not affiliated with), which connects people with the VINE program in each state.

For someone who is seeking to get a protection order against someone who is due to get out of prison or jail, s/he may be able to get one based on past violence coupled with the fact that the person is due to be released. You can read about restraining orders in your state on our Restraining Orders page. When an abuser is in jail, the victim may have to arrange to have the restraining order paperwork served within the jail. The process to do this may differ depending on the state. In some states, court paperwork can be mailed to the jail. In other states, an official working at the jail may need to give the paperwork to the abuser and sign an affidavit of service. You may want to ask a lawyer in your state what your options are. You can find lawyers, some free or low-cost if you qualify, on our Finding a Lawyer page.

One thing to note is that sometimes there may already be a criminal court order of protection in place for the victim of the crime, which may extend to even after the abuser is released. Sometimes the victim may not even realize that there is one that is still valid. Another thing to consider is that sometimes as part of the conditions of release (such as probation or parole conditions), there may be a term that says “no contact” with the victim of the crime. You might want to talk to the prosecutor who handled the criminal case to find out if there is a valid criminal court order of protection or to ask about any conditions of release that may protect you.

Also, for tips on staying safe, please visit our Safety Tips pages.