By Jalayne Robinson, LMSW
TDCAA Victim Services Director
Lately, I have been fielding a lot of questions regarding the transition from Texas VINE (Victim Information Notification Everyday) to a new one called Texas IVSS-Counties (Integrated Victim Services System). Texas IVSS went live on September 1, 2025.
Texas IVSS-Counties is a free, secure, and confidential service. Once a crime victim registers in the system, the system automatically notifies that person in English or Spanish whenever:
• the suspect or defendant is booked or released,
• a court event has been set or changed, or
• there is a change in custody status, such as death, escape, or transfer to custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ).
Crime victims can be contacted by text, phone call, email or all three. They can also choose to set blackout dates or preferred hours when they want to be notified.
If crime victims were already registered with VINE, their registration has been carried over to the new system, so there is no need to re-register. In fact, on August 25, 2025, anyone who already registered with Texas VINE received an email stating that the State of Texas would transition to a new notification system and that no action was required on their part.
Here is the new website (portal) for Texas IVSS-Counties: https://ivss-counties.tdcj.texas .gov. You and crime victims can register there. The phone number is 866/268-8959, and you can request help with offender information, registering updates, or victim services in English or Spanish. If the offender is in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ [prison]), contact the TDCJ–Victim Services Division at 800/848-4294 for additional support.
Please note when you register that there’s a red button for a “law enforcement elevated access request.” We asked TDCJ about this, and we were told it’s meant for law enforcement agencies only, not prosecutor offices.
Texas IVSS-Counties is a very valuable tool for victims to stay informed; however, we need to remember it is not an absolute guarantee of safety, of notification of release from jail, or of court case notifications.
In addition, not all local jails are set up with Texas IVSS-Counties. To find out if your county participates, go to the portal at https://ivss-counties.tdcj.texas.gov, register if you haven’t already, and use the “search for an offender” function to see if the county’s jail information is integrated into the system.
Victim services consultations
As TDCAA’s Victim Services Director, my primary responsibility is to assist Texas prosecutors, victim assistance coordinators (VACs), and other prosecutor office staff in providing support services for crime victims in their jurisdictions. I am available to provide training and technical assistance to you via phone, email, in person, or Zoom. The training and assistance are free of charge. Are you a new VAC? This training would be perfect for you.
If you would like to host a training in your county for prosecutors and staff, please reach out to me at Jalayne.Robinson@tdcaa.com. I can tailor the training to meet your specific needs. If you’d like to host a regional training for several surrounding counties in your area, I can do that—I just ask for access to a free location with presentation capabilities that will accommodate a crowd. Many offices across Texas are taking advantage of this free victim services training! See the photos below for recent in-office training I have provided. Not pictured is my visit to San Augustine and Sabine Counties. Thanks to 1st Judicial District Attorney Paul A. Robbins for hosting this training, and special thanks to Administrative Assistant Stacey Hamilton for all you did to make it happen. We had a great group in attendance.
Key Personnel–Victim Services Board
On May 2, the Key Personnel–Victim Services Board met at TDCAA headquarters in Austin to plan the fall conference. It was an engaging and productive day filled with collaboration and creative ideas. Thank you to all our Board members for sharing your time and expertise.
If you are interested in serving on the Board, please contact me at Jalayne.Robinson@tdcaa .com for additional information. Elections for specific Texas regions are held each year during the TDCAA Key Personnel & Victim Assistance Coordinator Conference, and there are appointed representative positions as well.
’Tis the season for the Tree of Angels
The Tree of Angels is a meaningful Christmas program specifically held in memory and support of victims of violent crime. A Tree of Angels allows your community to recognize that the holiday season is a difficult time for families and friends who have suffered the crushing impact of a violent crime.
This special event honors and supports surviving victims’ and their families by having loved ones bring an angel ornament to place on a Christmas tree. The first program was implemented in December 1991 initiated by Verna Lee Carr, State Director of People Against Violent Crime (PAVC) in Austin. Working as a volunteer victim advocate, she realized that the holiday season was especially difficult for victims and their families. PAVC wanted to do something special for these victims, so the organization began the tradition of having a statewide Tree of Angels ceremony. The Tree of Angels has become a memorable tradition observed in many communities, providing comfort, hope, support, and healing.
PAVC was founded by Nell Myers whose daughter, Cydney Myers, was brutally murdered in 1979. Upon learning of the injustices in the criminal justice system back in those days, Nell committed herself to making a difference in the lives of crime victims across the state of Texas. PAVC was established in Austin and has 36 charter members. Nell passed away on September 26, 2000, but her passing has not changed the organization’s purpose.
It is my honor to share that I have been invited to deliver the closing remarks at the 35th Anniversary of the Annual Tree of Angels Ceremony honoring victims of violent crime. The event is scheduled for Sunday, December 7, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the Central Christian Church (1110 Guadalupe Street in downtown Austin). This meaningful event honors and remembers victims of violent crime and offers support and healing to the families and loved ones who continue their journey forward. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a powerful tradition of remembrance, hope and community.
Interested in hosting a Tree of Angels in your community?
A how-to guide is available electronically on how to establish a Tree of Angels ceremony in your community. The Tree of Angels is a registered trademark of PAVC, which is extremely sensitive to ensuring that its original meaning and purpose continues and is not distorted in any way. For this reason, PAVC asks if your city or county is interested in receiving a copy of the how-to guide, to please complete a basic informational form. After the form is completed and submitted to PAVC, you will receive instructions on how to download the guide. Please do not share it to avoid unauthorized use or distribution of the material.
Please contact Verna Lee at vernalee@peopleagainstviolentcrime.org or vernalee47@sbcglobal.net, and put Tree of Angels in the subject line. Include your city or county name to be added to the growing list of communities that have made the Tree of Angels an annual event of remembrance and hope. For a list of all counties who participate, check out the website treeofangels.org.
Victim Impact Statement (VIS) revision
In accordance with Art. 56A.151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse has revised the Victim Impact Statement (VIS) and related brochures and documents following the 89th Legislative Session this summer.
I had the privilege of serving on the TDCJ–Victim Services Division Victim Impact Statement Revision Committee, which convened several times in Austin to review the format and content of the VIS form and related materials. With crime victims in mind, the committee proposed and reviewed numerous updates to ensure the documents are clear, comprehensive, and consistent with current legislative changes.
I highly encourage you to download the newly revised VIS forms and brochures, which are now available at www.tdcj.texas.gov/publications/victim_impact_statement.html#vis.
Access the updated Texas Crime Victims’ Rights Brochure at www.tdcj.texas.gov/documents/Texas_Crime_Victim_Rights_English.pdf
Many other updated brochures and publications may also be downloaded or ordered by mail for free (with limits of 50 per order) at tdcj.texas .gov/publications/index.html#victim.