Supporting Victims and their Families
The Tennessee Department of Correction is committed to supporting and providing direct services to victims of crime and their families. The department is mandated by law and policy to inform registered victims, survivors, family members, and interested parties of an offender's status, release dates, escapes, and movements with a lower security designation.
In order to increase awareness of the impact of crime on victims, their families, and entire communities, the Tennessee Department of Correction provides victim impact classes to offenders at each of its facilities and community supervision districts. Victim Impact Classes are designed to educate offenders about the negative impact of their crime and to increase accountability and responsibility to victims in order to reduce recidivism.
Victim Services also provides a voluntary victim-offender dialogue program that gives victims the opportunity to have a structured, one-time, face-to-face meeting with the offender who has victimized them. The confidential dialogue is initiated and driven by the victim of crime.
Mission of Victim Services
To support victims, their families, and the laws that protect their rights, while utilizing recognized principles of offender behavioral change to help reduce the risk of repeat criminal behavior.
VINE Victim Registration
Victims of crime and their families have a right to receive information regarding offenders in TDOC custody. To stay informed about the status of felony offenders who are in the custody of the Tennessee Department of Correction register through TDOC's Victim Notification System.
Go to VINElink.com and select Tennessee from the dropdown menu. You may then search for an offender by name or TDOC #. Once you have located the offender you are interested in receiving information about, click on RECORD DETAILS or GET NOTIFIED. If you select get notified, after you have completed the registration, you will begin receiving electronic notifications either by text, email, TTY, or an automated phone call. Live operators are available to provide support 24/7 at (888) 868-4631.
Contact Information:
Victim Services
320 6th Avenue North
Rachel Jackson Building, 5th Floor
Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0465
Email: Victim.Notification@tn.gov
Parole Hearings
Parole hearings are conducted by the Board of Parole, a separate state agency. Victims may also register with the Board of Parole to receive parole hearing notifications. Parole hearings dates as well as the names of offenders with pending hearings are available on their website: Parole Hearing Schedules.
Locate An Offender
Information regarding an offender's current status, location, photo, and active sentences is available by clicking the Felony Offender Informaton Lookup (FOIL) here: FOIL - Offender Search.
Services Available for Victims of Crime:
- Crisis intervention and advocacy throughout the corrections process, assisting victims with concerns related to inmates under our jurisdiction.
- Victim Speakers Bureau - If you or a loved one are a victim of crime and would like to share your story, please contact Victim Services Division.
- Community education about policies and procedures of TDOC.
- Referrals to other state and community services.
Resources for Victims of Crime:
Federal Bureau of Prisons Victim Services