GENERAL INFORMATION
The Department of Justice developed the Victim Notification System (VNS) to provide important information to victims. Our records indicate that you are or were a victim of a federal crime (or an alternate contact for a victim) and that you are currently participating in the VNS. Please take a few moments to answer the questions that apply to your situation. Your responses will help improve the VNS.
Did you receive an Initial Notification Letter from a federal agency informing you about the Victim Notification System? This letter included your registrant identification and pin numbers.
[Check (√) one that applies.]
Yes
No
I do not recallWhen was the last time you received a notification or when did you last access the VNS website?
[Fill in or check (√) one that applies.]
______________________
(month/year)
I do not recall.
I have not received any notification from the VNS.Please indicate all forms of communication you receive regarding the Victim Notification System: [Check (√) all that apply.]
E-mail
Fax
Letter (U.S. Mail)
Pager
Telephone
TDD (hearing impaired)
Website
NoneWhich language did you request for your notifications?
English
Spanish
Other
Did not specify language4a. Did you receive your notifications in the language you requested?
Yes
No
CUSTODY STATUS AND RESTITUTION
The Victims of Crime Act and Justice for All Act include the rights to be reasonably protected from the accused and to full and timely restitution as provided by the law.
How important is it for you to know the custody status (incarcerated or not incarcerated) of the defendant(s)/inmate(s) in your case? [Check (√) one that applies.]
Extremely important
Very important
Important
Not important
Not important at all (Go to Question #8.)Are you currently aware of the custody status of the defendant(s)/inmate(s) in your case (out on bail, detained, escaped, died, case dismissed, released, etc.)? [Check (√) one that applies.]
Yes
NoDo you know how to find the custody status of the defendant(s)/inmate(s) in your case?
[Check (√) one that applies.]
Yes
No (Go to Question #8.)Are you a victim of a crime that involves restitution? [Check (√) one that applies.]
Yes
No (Go to Question #10.)Have you accessed the VNS website for information regarding restitution?
[Check (√) one that applies.]
Yes
No
Do Not Recall
7a. If yes, have you called any of the following entities regarding custody status of the defendant(s)/inmate(s) in your case? [Check (√) all that apply.]
U.S. Attorneys Office
VNS Call Center
Other __________________
I have not called any of the above entities
7b. How satisfied were you with the assistance you received regarding custody status of the defendant(s)/inmate(s) in your case? [Check (√) one that applies.]
Very satisfied
Satisfied
Dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied
Extremely dissatisfied – if dissatisfied, please explain why in the space below.
8a. If yes, have you called any of the following entities for assistance regarding restitution?
[Check (√) all that apply.]
U.S. Attorneys Office
VNS Call Center
Other ________________
I have not called any of the above entities
8b. How satisfied were you with the assistance you received regarding restitution?
[Check (√) one that applies.]
Very satisfied
Satisfied
Dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied
Extremely dissatisfied – if dissatisfied, please explain why in the space below.
9a. If yes, how satisfied were you with the restitution information you received?
Very satisfied
Satisfied
Dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied
Extremely dissatisfied – if dissatisfied, please explain why in the space below.
WRITTEN, VERBAL, AND WEBSITE NOTIFICATIONS
The DOJ Victim Notification System is based on a victim’s right to reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of any public court or any parole proceeding involving the crime; or of any release or escape of the accused. The following questions relate to the different forms of notification (written, verbal, and website) by which victims in the VNS are notified.
The following questions relate to written notifications via the U.S. mail, e-mail, fax, and information posted on the VNS website.
-
How easy is it for you to understand the information in the notifications?
[Check (√) one that applies.]
Very easy to understand
Easy to understand
Understandable
Difficult to understand
Very difficult to understand
Extremely difficult to understand
Has there been conflicting information in any of the notifications you received?
[Check (√) one that applies.]
Yes
No (Go to Question #12.)Have you ever found incorrect information in any notifications that you have received?
[Check (√) one that applies.]
Yes
No (Go to Question #13.)
I do not know (Go to Question #13.)In your opinion, do you agree or disagree that you have been notified of all events (such as public court proceedings) involving your case? [Check (√) one that applies.]
Strongly agree
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
I do not know.Do you agree or disagree that you received timely notices well before the events?
[Check (√) one that applies.]
Strongly agree (Notices were received well before the events.) (Go to Question #15.)
Agree (Go to Question #15.)
Neutral (Go to Question #15.)
Disagree
Strongly disagree (Notices were not received well before the events.)Did you participate in any event (for example, attend, speak, or submit a victim impact statement) after receiving a notification? [Check (√) one that applies]
Yes
No
Not applicableWere you ever not able to attend an event because the notification was unclear or contained conflicting information? [Check (√) one that applies]
Yes
No
Not applicableOverall, how useful was the information provided to you in the notification(s)?
[Check (√) one that applies.] Very useful
Useful
Neutral
Not useful
Not at all useful
11a. If yes, did you report the conflicting information to the federal agency that sent you the notification(s)? [Check (√) one that applies.]
No (Go to Question #12.)
11b. If yes, did the agency resolve the conflict(s)? [Check (√) one that applies.]
No
12a. If yes, did you report the incorrect information to the federal agency that sent you the notification? [Check (√) one that applies.]
No (Go to Question #13.)
12b. If yes, did the agency correct the incorrect information? [Check (√) one that applies.]
No
14a. If notices were not timely, how often did you receive late notifications?
[Check (√) one that applies.]
4-6 times
7-9 times
10 times or more
14b. If notices were not timely, did you ever miss an event you wanted to attend because of a late notification? [Check (√) one that applies.]
No (Go to Question #15.)
14c. If yes, how many events did you miss? [Check (√) one that applies.]
4-6 events
7-9 events
10 events or more
The following questions pertain to the VNS Internet Website.
Have you ever accessed the VNS website to review your case information?
[Check (√) one that applies.]
Yes
No (Go to Question #30.)How easy or hard was the process to set up your VNS website account?
[Check (√) one that applies.]
Very easy
Somewhat easy
Neither hard nor easy
Somewhat hard
Very hardHow easy or hard is it to navigate or find information within the VNS website?
[Check (√) one that applies.]
Very easy
Somewhat easy
Neither hard nor easy
Somewhat hard
Very hardHow often have you accessed the VNS website for information? [Check (√) one that applies.]
Every day
Weekly
Monthly
Quarterly
Annually
I have not accessed the website since I set up my account.How easy was it for you to understand the information on the website?
[Check (√) one that applies.]
Very easy to understand
Easy to understand
Neither easy or difficult to understand
Difficult to understand
Very difficult to understandDid you find all the information you wanted on the website? [Check (√) one that applies.]
Found all information
Found almost all information
Found some information
Found little information
Did not find informationWas there conflicting information on the website? [Check (√) one that applies.]
Yes
No (Go to Question #25.)Have you ever come across incorrect information in the website? [Check (√) one that applies.]
Yes
No (Go to Question #26.)
I do not know (Go to Question #26.)In your opinion, do you agree or disagree that notice of event(s) was posted on the VNS website in a timely manner? [Check (√) one that applies.]
Strongly agree (Go to Question #27.)
Agree (Go to Question #27.)
Neutral (Go to Question #27.)
Disagree
Strongly disagreeHave you participated in any event (for example, attend, speak, or submit a victim impact statement) after reviewing VNS website information? [Check (√) one that applies]
Yes
NoOverall, how useful is the information provided to you on the website?
[Check (√) one that applies.]
Very useful
Useful
Neutral
Not useful
Not at all usefulIf any, what information would you like to see added to the website?
(Please print your answer below.)
24a. If yes, did you report the conflicting information to any of the following entities?
[Check (√) all that apply.]
U.S. Attorneys Office
VNS Call Center
Other
I did not report the conflicting information. (Go to Question #25.)
24b. Were information conflicts resolved? [Check (√) one that applies.]
No
25a. If yes, did you report the incorrect information to any of the following entities?
[Check (√) all that apply.]
U.S. Attorneys Office
VNS Call Center
Other
I did not report the incorrect information.
25b. Was the incorrect information corrected? [Check (√) one that applies.]
No
26a. If you disagree, did you miss an event because the information was posted too late?
[Check (√) one that applies.]
No
26b. How often have you noticed late posting(s) on the website? [Check (√) one that applies.]
4-6 times
7-9 times
10 times or more
CALL CENTER – AUTOMATED INFORMATION AND LIVE ASSISTANCE
The following questions relate to the VNS Call Center, which provides victims with automated information and/or live assistance with their case, or live assistance with the VNS website.
Have you called the toll-free number to get Call Center assistance? [Check (√) one that applies.]
Yes
No (Go to Question #46.)
I do not recall (Go to Question #46.)Have you ever contacted the Call Center and hung up for any of the following reason(s)?
[Check (√) all that apply.]
It took too long to get help.
There were too many instructions to follow.
The automated call system was too difficult to use.
Other (please describe)
30a. If yes, what type of assistance did you receive from the Call Center?
[Check (√) all that apply.]
Live Assistance
Both
Please answer Questions #32-37 only if you have used the Call Center’s automated system for case information; otherwise go to Question #38.
How often have you used the automated system? [Check (√) one that applies.]
Often
Sometimes
Rarely
Never (Go to Question #38.)How would you rate the automated system availability when you called?
[Check (√) one that applies.]
Always available
Often available
Sometimes available
Rarely available
Never availableHow easy is it to access information through the automated system?
[Check (√) one that applies.]
Very easy
Easy
Somewhat easy
Not easy
Not easy at allIs the information easy to hear on the automated system? [Check (√) one that applies.]
Yes
NoDid you receive the information you wanted from the automated system?
[Check (√) one that applies.]
Always received the information
Often received the information
Sometimes received the information
Rarely received the information
Never received the informationWhat additional information would you like made available from the Call Center ’s automated system for case information? Please print your answer below.
Answer Questions #38-41 only if you used live assistance for case information; otherwise go to Question #42.
How often have you used live assistance from the Call Center ? [Check (√) one that applies.]
Often
Sometimes
Rarely
Never (Go to Question #42.)How would you rate the live assistance availability when you called?
[Check (√) one that applies.]
Always available
Often available
Sometimes available
Rarely available
Never availableDid you receive the information you wanted? [Check (√) one that applies.]
Always received the information
Often received the information
Sometimes received the information
Rarely received the information
Never received the informationWhat additional information would you like made available from the Call Center ’s live assistance for case information? Please print your answer below.
Answer Questions #42-45 only if you used the Call Center for VNS website assistance; otherwise go to Question #46.
Have you ever contacted the Call Center for VNS website assistance?
[Check (√) one that applies.]
Yes
No (Go to Question #45.)
For which of the following did you need VNS website assistance? [Check (√) all that apply.]
Victim Identification Number (VIN)Did you receive the information about the VNS website you wanted from the Call Center live assistance? [Check (√) one that applies.]
Always received the information
Often received the information
Sometimes received the information
Rarely received the information
Never received the informationWhat additional information would you like made available from the Call Center for VNS website assistance?
Please print your answer below.
Personal Identification Number (PIN)
VNS website access
Other VNS website questions (Please print your answer below.)
YOUR OPINION COUNTS
Your opinion is very important to help improve the Victim Notification System. Please answer the following questions about your experiences with the services and information provided by the VNS. Please print your answers in the space provided below each question.
What are the most beneficial services provided by the VNS?
What improvements would you like to see made to the VNS?
What additional information in the VNS would be useful to you?
Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey. Your participation is greatly appreciated and will help to improve the Department of Justice Victim Notification System.