Frequently Asked Questions

If you are experiencing problems with a state Victim Notification Everyday (VINE) system, please contact the state organization responsible for the system. To locate the appropriate contact, visit the VINELink website and select your state.

State underage drinking laws can be found on the State Profiles of Underage Drinking Laws section of the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse's Alcohol Policy Information System website.

Information on the use of DNA to solve cold cases can be found in the following National Institute of Justice (NIJ) articles and resources:

• National Best Practices for Implementing and Sustaining a Cold Case Investigation Unit
• Solving Cold Cases with DNA: The Boston Strangler Case
• Using DNA to Solve Cold Cases: Special Report

Also watch the following NIJ videos:

• The Impact of National Institute of Justice's Solving Cold Cases with DNA Program
• The Importance and Impact of Cold Case Units

Additionally, with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Training and Technical Assistance Program has produced the following materials:

• Utilizing DNA Evidence to Investigate Cold Case Sexual Assaults through CODIS
• Prioritizing Cold Case CODIS Hit Follow-up: Strategies for Sexual Assault Investigators

Information about community corrections can be found in our Community Corrections Special Feature and on the Community Services Division section of the National Institute of Corrections website.

See the How to Keep Your Personal Information Secure section of the Federal Trade Commission's Consumer Information website for information about how to protect yourself from potential identity theft.

For additional information and resources, visit the Identity Theft Special Feature section of our website.

United States immigration statistics are available in the Yearbook of Immigration Statistics, produced by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). See the Immigration Data & Statistics section of the DHS website for additional information.

To report suspected illegal immigration activity, contact U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at 866-347-2423 or by email.

The core requirements of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 are outlined in the Core Requirements section of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention website.

The Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) system allows crime victims across the country to obtain timely and reliable information about criminal cases and the custody status of offenders 24 hours a day—over the telephone, through the internet, or by email. Please visit the VineLink website for additional information.

According to the Victim Compensation Program Guidelines, at a minimum, the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) requires states to award compensation for medical expenses, mental health counseling, lost wages, and funeral expenses when they are attributable to a compensable crime.

For more information regarding expenses covered in your state, please contact your state victim compensation program. The State Support section of the Office for Victims of Crime website provides access to contact information.