Victim Services
Our vision for victims and survivors of crime is that their voices are heard, valued, and included in a collective effort to hold offenders accountable, prevent future harm, and enhance community safety.
Call us at 1-800-322-2201 or Send an email to us at(victimservices@doc1.wa.gov)
- Enroll for Notification - Get notified about an offender’s status
- Mission and Beliefs - The guiding principles behind our work
- Other Services - Services other than notification we offer
- FAQs - Frequently asked questions about victim services
Implementation of a New Global Positioning System (GPS) Monitoring Policy
Victims, witnesses and others who have asked to be notified when offenders leave secure facilities will be notified by telephone as soon as DOC has verified that offenders on GPS monitoring have absconded and Secretary’s Warrants are issued. The telephone calls will be followed by letters confirming the telephone information.
In addition to providing the notification, Victim Services Program offer community members assistance with safety planning and referrals to other resources that may help. Enrollees in the Victim Services Program can include victims, witnesses, family members of deceased victims and guardians of minor children.
GPS devices are not monitored in real time. Correctional officers check the offender’s movements of the previous day. There are other reasons the signal may stop: like a cell phone the GPS unit might be out of power; tall buildings, heavy snow, being in a car or in a building can interfere with the signal.
The first step when a signal has stopped and/or reports the device has been removed is for correctional officers to attempt to find the offender. If they cannot, they request a Secretary’s Warrant and the issuance of the warrant triggers the warning to the victim.