When you come to this page, you may want to know a way to search for an offender in VINELink. You are at the right page, here we will share a way to search for an offender in VINELink. So, if you really want to know that information, make sure you read this text below until the end.
A Guide to Search for an Offender in VINELink
Here is a guide to search for an offender in VINELink:
- At the first step, you are able to access VINELink through the web or mobile app.
- After that, you need to choose your State to get started.
- To search for an offender in VINELink, you have to select “Search for Someone.”
- To continue your search, you have to enter the offender’s name or ID number.
- For best search results, you need to enter the offender’s full first and last name. If the exact name is unknown or does not return results, then you need to choose “Partial Name” and submit at least the first two characters or the last name to include more potential matches. To include any photos which may have been provided by an agency in your search results, simply select “Display offender photos in search results (If available).”
- For those users who have not made or signed into a VINELink account, then a CAPTCHA will need to be solved to continue with the search. Please check the box next to “I’m not a robot” to generate the CAPTCHA. Keep in mind that the CAPTCHA will vey each time. Please solve the CAPTCHA by choosing the appropriate images and clicking “Verify.”
- After verifying the CAPTCHA, then you are able to click “Search” to continue.
- Please choose the offender from the search results. Also, you are able to click on Record Details to see custody details. This Record Details will list identifying information for the offender, including the offender’s name, gender, age, and race.
What Happens if I Cannot Find the Offender I Want?
If your search does not produce the results you want, then you have to double-check that you have entered the correct information. Remember you are able to search by name only if you need to. The system will only have information on the offenders currently in custody.
If a facility released the offender, then that offender will not show up in a search. You will need to contact your local law enforcement agency for a status update. Also, it is possible the offender moved to a different facility and the database has not updated yet. In several cases, the facility may be offline. Usually, the system is going to alert you when facilities are down and not reporting information. Another issue is the offender or case is at the federal level.
Need to note that VINE only reports on local, county, and state cases and offenders. You are going to need to use a federal Department of Corrections system to access the information. VINE is available in 48 states, however, not every jurisdiction within each state reports its criminal case information or custody status information to the system. It is possible you are attempting to access information from one of the states or areas in which the system is not active.
A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.
