Burley, Idaho (KMVT-TV) For many crime victims, the thought of meeting their offender on the street is very upsetting. But now a program that notifies victims where criminals are will continue, thanks to the Idaho Legislature.

This week Idaho Governor Butch Otter signed House Bill 595, which requires people convicted of misdemeanors and felonies to pay ten dollars to a victim fund. That money will be used to pay for the VINE program.

Randy Kidd, Cassia County Sheriff, says, "One thing it does for the victim is a lot of times, if it's been a violent crime or incident, it gives them reassurance that they're still in jail. And if they're getting out, if they encounter them on the street, it's not a big surprise that this person's out again."

VINE stands for "Victim Information and Notification Everyday." Kidd says the Idaho VINE program only tracks offenders in the Gem State. He says you'd need to contact another state's Department of Correction if you wanted to check up on an offender in that state.

Kidd says, "Otherwise we're mandated by law to notify the victims. And it would fall on each county sheriff to do that independent of each other. And it's a real issue to get done."

Kidd says you can register your contact information with the state of Idaho's VINE program several different ways. You can call the VINE hotline at (866) 9 VINE ID, or you can visit the vinelink.com website.

Kidd says, "The quickest way I can tell you to go to the VINE program is to go to the Idaho Sheriff's Association website, and there's a direct link to the VINE program."

Mar. 30, 2012.