The Newberry County Sheriff’s Office has received a statewide award for Innovations in Victim Services from the South Carolina Victim’s Assistance Network.

The award was presented to Sheriff Foster for being the first in South Carolina and perhaps first in the nation to implement electronic victim forms.

The program allows the deputy to complete the form on their phone. The form is the sent to the victim by text and/or email. The form contains all of information the victim will need along with links to additional resources the victim can access by simply clicking on the link.

The forms are stored in a secure portal and from there victim’s advocates, investigators, and correctional officers can use text or email to contact the victim for updates in their case, notification of hearings, and release of the suspect.

Kim Hamm, who presented the award, said that the program brought victim’s services and alerts into the technology age using technology to better serve the victims of crime.

“We are honored and pleased to receive this prestigious award,” said Sheriff Foster. “We have been on the forefront of several areas of technology because we understand that nothing will ever replace caring about people and hard work; however, technology can provide an easy and fast way to communicate making it better for the victim and the providers of victim services.”

This program has gained both statewide and national attention. It is currently being considered as a prototype for a statewide program to store, retain, and access victim’s information across the many agencies who work together to best serve victims.

The award was presented on October 1 at the South Carolina Victim’s Assistance Network annual conference.

The Newberry County Sheriff’s Office partnered with SalientCRGT to bring this innovative program to fruition. They provided both the technology and the digital infrastructure for this project. Sheriff Foster commended them for their foresight and willingness to create this ground breaking project that started as a vision with the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office.

Pictured are Sheriff Lee Foster, Kim Hamm of the South Carolina Victim’s Assistance Network and a Newberry County resident, and Chief Deputy Todd Johnson.