What is Texas VINE?  

VINE is an acronym for Victim Information and Notification Everyday.  VINE provides a very important service to notify victims of violent crime of an impending release or court event involving their attacker.

The VINE program requires that the victim register to be notified of any changes in an offenders status such as an impending release, court date or escape.  To learn more or to register for VINE in Bexar County, contact the Bexar County Sheriff's Office Victim Liaison at 210-226-0303 ext. 229.

There are currently 4 steps to becoming involved with the VINE program:

1. Preparing For Your First Call

Fill out as many of the blanks on the V.I.N.E. Registration Form as you can.  The form can be downloaded here.

The Law Enforcement Case Number is a unique identifying number assigned by law enforcement.

To translate the Offenders Name to number, match each letter to a number using the keypad.  Use 1 for "Q" and "Z". For example, "John" is 5646.  Write the Offenders Name as a number in the space provided on the form.

You can get the court case number from the District Attorney's Victim Assistance Program listed in the "Helpful Numbers" section further down on this page.

Select a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that is easy for you to remember.

2. Locating Information on Offender Status and Court Dates

Call toll-free 1-877-TX4-VINE (1-877-894-8463) from a touch tone phone. (If calling from a rotary phone, please stay on the line to speak with an operator)

Follow the voice instructions using the information you wrote on the V.I.N.E. Registration Form. IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE, PRESS ZERO (0) TO SPEAK TO AN OPERATOR WHEN THE SYSTEM PROMPTS YOU TO CHOOSE AN OPTION.

After Texas V.I.N.E. locates the offender, you will be given the Offenders Number.  Write this number on the V.I.N.E. Registration Form and save the form in a safe place.

3. Registering For Notification

Texas V.I.N.E. allows you to register for automatic notification of changes in offender jail status and court events.  You will need to register separately for each type of notification.

When you register, you will be asked to provide two things:

1. Phone number where you wish to be notified. Register as many phone numbers as you like - including your home and work phone.  Do not register a phone that rings to a receptionist or a switch board.

2. Four-digit PIN (Personal Identification Number) Use the PIN you already have chosen.  You may use the same PIN with each phone number you register.

4. Receiving A Notification Call

Texas V.I.N.E. will automatically notify registered persons of offender status and court event changes.  To confirm that you have received the notification, enter your four-digit PIN.  Texas V.I.N.E. will keep calling for 24 hours until this PIN is entered.

You will receive notification under the following circumstances:

1. The offender is released or transferred

2. A court event has been set or changed

3. The offender has died in jail or escapes

Helpful Numbers

Alamo Children's Advocacy Center
1-210-675-9000

Battered Women's Shelter
1-210-733-8810

Bexar County Sheriff's Office Victim Liaison
1-210-465-0495

Bexar County District Attorney's Office Victim Assistance Program
1-210-335-2105

Bexar County Adult Probation Victim Services
1-210-335-0042

Crime Victim's Compensation Program, Office of the Attorney General, Crime Victim Services Division
1-800-983-9933

City Magistrate (San Antonio)
1-210-207-7532

MADD
1-210-349-0200

Parents Of Murdered Children
1-210-433-8717

Problems with V.I.N.E.
1-877-894-8463 then press "0"

San Antonio Police Department Victim Advocacy Section
1-210-207-2141

Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse TDCJ - Victim Services
1-800-848-4284

The Rape Crisis Center
1-210-349-7273