The Purpose of the Victim Notification Program

---

The Victim Notification Program provides victims, key witnesses, prosecutors' office members, victim/witness coordinators, and advocates, who were actually involved in the criminal prosecution of a case, notification of that offender's status (see Information That We Can Provide).

The notification is provided only on felony offenders who are initially sentenced to, and incarcerated in, adult correctional facilities under the jurisdiction of the Wyoming Department of Corrections.

Note: This program does NOT provide notification regarding misdemeanant offenders sentenced to jail, or on offenders placed on probation.

If you wish to participate in this program, you must complete a "Notification of Rights and Request Form" (see How to Register). You will have the option to receive either written notification through the postal service, or e-mail notification, but NOT both.  In emergency situations, you will be contacted by telephone.

How To Register as a Victim

---

If you are the victim of a crime, surviving family member, parent/legal guardian of a victim, or have participated in the criminal prosecution of a case, and you wish to receive information regarding an offender, you MUST notify the Victim Notification Program in the following manner:

• Obtain a "Notification of Rights and Request Form".  This can be done either from this web page or through the prosecuting attorney's office IN THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE CRIME TOOK PLACE.
  
  Click here to access the form online.  Completed copies can be emailed as an attachment to 
  doc-victim-services@wyo.gov.  Alternatively, you can submit a printed form to either the Prosecutors Office in the county where the crime occurred or to the Wyoming Department of Corrections at the address below.  One of those agencies will then complete the remainder of the form and determine if you are entitled to notification. 
  
  
• A member of the prosecutor's office staff or Wyoming Department of Corrections Victim Notification Program can provide you with any help needed in completing the form.
  
  
• Be sure you complete all the information on the form and save a copy for yourself.  It will be needed to process your request and to ensure we are able to contact you.
  
  

Notification will begin once it has been verified that you are entitled to notification and the Wyoming Department of Corrections has your request form on file. 

All information provided on the Victim Bill of Rights Notification Request Form (including information requests, identify of requestors, and contact information) is CONFIDENTIAL.

Information That We Can Provide

---

If you are the victim of a crime, surviving family member, parent/legal guardian of a victim, or have participated in the criminal prosecution of a case, AND you complete and submit the “Notification of Rights and Request Form" you will be able to receive the information listed below from each respective agency.  Click here to access the form online, complete it and print it.  

 

Department of Corrections (incarceration matters)

1.     Commencement of sentence and location

2.     Anticipated release date

3.     Work release

4.     Escape/Recapture

5.     Death of offender

6.     Reductions or extensions of sentence

7.     Change in location (both while incarcerated and on parole)

8.     Furloughs

9.   * Notice and opportunity to provide input prior to offender’s acceptance to a Community

        Corrections program

 Board of Parole (parole matters)

1.   * Notice and opportunity to provide input into parole hearings

2.   * Restitution matters

3.     Granting or modification of parole

4.     Pending revocation of parole

5.     Absconsion/Apprehension

6.     Rescission of parole

7.     Discharge from parole

8.     Notice and opportunity to provide input regarding pending commutations

 Attorney General’s Office

1.     Application for pardon

2.     Appeal of offender’s case

NOTE:

The items listed with an * allow for the opportunity to provide input into Community Corrections placement, Parole Board hearings, and restitution matters. This is afforded only to those individuals who are the actual victims of the crime.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

---

1.      What does an inmate’s sentence mean

Victims, survivors, and others often want to know how long an offender will stay in prison. Factors used in determining the length of time include the court-ordered sentence, jail credit and the amount of good time the inmate earns under Wyoming’s “good time” system.

Upon an inmate’s arrival, the prison’s Records Office reviews the court order(s) and calculates the minimum and maximum length of sentence as stipulated. Any time spent incarcerated prior to the sentencing date is usually credited toward the minimum and maximum sentence. When ordered by the court, the inmate may serve multiple sentences concurrently (at the same time) or consecutively (one after another). Inmates sentenced to consecutive prison terms remain incarcerated until the final sentence has been served.

 2.      What is Good Time?

Offenders sentenced to incarceration in a Wyoming state correctional facility are eligible to earn good time allowances which can reduce their minimum and maximum sentence by up to fifteen (15) days per month for each month served on a sentence unless it is a life sentence or a death sentence.  The ability to receive good time allowance is directly affected by an inmate’s adherence to the rules and participation in assigned work and programming.

3.      How many correctional facilities are in Wyoming?

• Wyoming State Penitentiary, P. O. Box 400, Rawlins, Wyoming 82301
• Wyoming Women’s Center, P. O. Box 300, Lusk, Wyoming 82225
• Wyoming Honor Farm, 40 Honor Farm Road, Riverton, Wyoming 82501
• Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp/Wyoming Boot Camp, P. O. Box 160, Newcastle, Wyoming82701
• Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution, Torrington, Wyoming

Contracted Facilities:

• Casper Re-entry Center, P.O. Box 2380, 10081 Landmark Lane, Mills, Wyoming  82644  
• Cheyenne Transitional Center, 322 W. 17th St., Cheyenne, Wyoming 
• Volunteers of America, P. O. Box 1346, Gillette, Wyoming 

 4.      What determines where an inmate will be housed?

Wyoming uses a classification tool to safely maintain inmates by identifying their security and program needs. Each inmate is rated according to several factors. These include public risk (security needs), institutional risk (custody needs), medical and health care needs, mental health needs, training and programming needs, substance abuse educational needs, education needs, vocational training needs, and work skills. With safety and security as priorities, risks to the public and the prison environment are always addressed first.

Wyoming Victim Bill of Rights 

---

• The right to be treated with compassion, respect, and sensitivity within the criminal justice system.
• The right to know the whereabouts of the defendant and the current status of the case.
• The right to receive restitution from offenders.
• The right to know all rights under this law including information about services and victim assistance at the local level.
• The right to know about victim compensation.
• The right to reasonable protection and safety and the right to know of legal recourse if threatened.
• The right to prompt return of property.
• The right to preservation of employment while participating in the criminal justice system.
• The right to be informed about the opportunity to make a victim impact statement at sentencing and parole hearings.
• The right to be present at trial.

 

VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) 

---

Automated Victim Notification System

In addition to written notification through the Wyoming Department of Corrections' Victim Notification Program, Wyoming has implemented a statewide automated victim information and notification service (VINE).

Wyoming VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) helps victims of crime obtain information about the custody status of their offender.  VINE is a free service that is available 24-hours a day.  VINE is available in English and Spanish and all registrations are confidential.

For information about VINE or to register call 1.866.994.8463 or visit https://www.vinelink.com

 

Other Resources and Links 

---

Wyoming Division of Victim Services

For other victim services and questions about victim compensation

Telephone 307.777.7200, or click here https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wy-ag/victim-services-home-page

Wyoming Board of Parole:

For information about the Wyoming Board of Parole, parole hearings, and parole supervision

Telephone: 307.777.5444, or click here  http://boardofparole.wyo.gov/

National Center for Victims of Crime:  1.855-484-2846, or click here  https://victimsofcrime.org/