CROWN POINT | Lake County Sheriff Rogelio "Roy" Dominguez said his office has a new way to promptly alert crime victims when jail inmates are released.

The sheriff said he has launched a local version of Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification, or VINE/SAVIN, which citizens can access on a 24-hour basis by telephone or Internet to check on the status of jail inmates.

"Protecting the citizens of Lake County is always our highest priority," he said.

Patti VanTil, an administrative deputy chief for the sheriff, said the program is being supported by the Indiana Department of Correction.

She said people using the system can call (866) 959-8463 or go online to www.vinelink.com. Prompts will have users provide the offenders' names or booking numbers to obtain the current custody status.

The system also will provide automatic notification of any change in offenders' status to anyone providing their telephone numbers.