Attorney General Brenna Bird announced on April 20 that her office has updated and re-implemented the Protective Order Notification System, which had been shut down in 2019 due to unresolved technical issues. The system allows victims and survivors of violent crimes to receive updates about the status of protective orders against offenders.
The program is intended for civil protective orders related to sexual abuse and domestic violence cases. The update follows a complete audit of the Victim Assistance section conducted by Bird after she took office.
The notification system is now available through Iowa Victim Information & Notification Everyday (IowaVINE), a free and anonymous service providing crime victims with information and notifications. IowaVINE offers confidential access to custody status and protective order details for both victims and the general public. Users can receive automated notifications by telephone, Internet, or email at any time, every day of the year. A live operator trained in victim services is also available by phone.
According to Attorney General Bird, “Knowledge is power. Through the IowaVINE Protective Order Notification system, victims can be armed with information on the status of a protective order against their abuser. Serving victims is one of the main reasons why I ran for Attorney General. And it is why on day one, I set out to make real changes to ensure victims receive the justice and support they deserve. I am so glad to announce this notification system is fixed and up and running well.”
Victims interested in using this service can visit the Iowa VINE website (https://vinelink.vineapps.com/search/IA/Person) to search by defendant name or case number for relevant information about civil protective orders.
Officials note that signing up for offender monitoring through this service does not include alerts from other agencies such as parole hearings or decisions; those require separate registration with appropriate departments like the Iowa Department of Corrections Office of Victim Programs.
The announcement concludes with a reminder not to rely solely on VINE for safety measures: individuals who feel they are in immediate danger should contact local law enforcement.
