Our mission is to support crime victims and their families by providing critical and timely information to help keep them safe.
What We Do
Sheriff Assist is a program provided by the New York State Sheriffs’ Institute and funded by the Office of Victim Services. New York State Sheriffs have been providing these critical notification systems since 1998.
The Order of Protection Notification System and Inmate Release Notification System are free services offered to crime victims and their families and often used as part of their safety plans. Anyone of any gender, race or age can become a crime victim at any time. That’s why NYSSI works with victims’ advocacy groups, law enforcement agencies, and courts systems throughout the state to train and provide education on the systems so they can cooperatively help crime victims stay safe.
Our History
Established in 1979
the New York State Sheriffs’ Institute comprises all 58 elected and appointed Sheriffs of New York State. Our mission is to advance criminal justice education, prevent juvenile delinquency, and support victims of crime and their families throughout New York State. Our programs include: the Sheriffs’ Summer Camp; our Criminal Justice Scholarship Program; and our Crime Victim Notification Services. The Sheriffs’ Institute is a not-for- profit, tax-exempt organization.
About New York’s Sheriffs
Most of New York’s sheriffs are elected officials, accountable to the voter every 4 years. Your county sheriff likely provides: criminal law enforcement, traffic patrol, emergency rescue operations, homeland security programs, SWAT operations, civil emergency response, jail operations, courtroom security, and civil litigation process.
Committed to Crime Victims
The NYS Sheriffs’ Institute has been in the business of providing victim notification services since 1998 when we received our first Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant through the New York State Office of Victim Services. The grant allowed us to establish and administer our Inmate Release Notification System (powered by VINE) in all the county correctional facilities in New York State, which are, of course, run by the New York’s Sheriffs. The VINE System was created in 1994 in Kentucky after the tragic murder of Mary Byron on her 21st birthday by her former boyfriend and attacker. (Click here to read Mary Byron’s story.)
Ed Wutzer, our former Director of Victim Services, learned about the VINE program soon after it was created and, recognizing its value to crime victims, set out to bring it New York State. A former Chairman of New York States’ Commission of Corrections, Ed worked with the sheriffs and jail administrators across the state to help them establish the system at their facilities. Today every county in New York is linked to the system, along with New York City and the New York State Department of Correctional Services.
The Order of Protection Notification System was created in 2009 with a grant from the US Bureau of Justice Assistance. With this “Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification” grant (aka SAVIN) a notification system was established that allows victims who have been granted an Order of Protection from a Family Court in New York State, including New York City, to register to be notified when the order of protection is served by law enforcement. Of course, these orders are often served by Sheriff’s Deputies. This system has been expanded to all of the criminal courts in New York State.
In 2020, Jaymes Hurley was hired to replace the retiring Ed Wutzer as the Director of Victim Services. Jaymes brought with him years of law enforcement experience from the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office which included supervisory roles in service of Orders of Protection and a history of working with crime victim advocates, the court system and law enforcement agencies across New York State.
Our Staff
Christopher G. O’Brien
Executive Director
Chris has been with the NYS Sheriffs’ Institute since it was established in 1979. As Executive Director, Chris oversees the many activities of the Institute, including the Sheriffs’ Summer Camp, the Criminal Justice Scholarship Program, the Victim Notification Programs, and the Honorary Membership Program that helps to support our work. While he is responsible for our many programs, for Chris it truly is all about the kids.
Carrie Kronick
Finance Operations Manager
Carrie has been with the NYS Sheriffs’ Institute since 2007. Initially hired as a Bookkeeper, Carrie’s role has expanded into all aspects of our work. In addition to her role managing the day-to-day financial operations, Carrie manages the Honorary Membership Program, is responsible for budget reporting for our grants, and supports the victim notification and summer camp programs.
Jaymes W. Hurley
Director of Victim Services
Jaymes joined the New York State Sheriff’s Institute as the Director of Victim Services in 2020. In this capacity works alongside law enforcement, victim advocacy groups, and the court system while he oversees the management and application of the Institute’s victim services. These include both the VINE program, as well as the Sheriff’s Institute’s Order of Protection Notification Program. He started his career working at the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office in Syracuse, NY. During his 15 years in law enforcement, he was assigned to a number of positions, including assignments in both the Custody (Corrections) and Civil Departments.
He departed the Sheriff’s Office in 2020 as a Lieutenant assigned as the Commander of the Civil Division. Outside of his work with the Sheriff’s Institute, Jaymes serves as an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He has held many assignments and has been deployed/recalled in support of a different operations to include Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn.
Daniel M. Foro
Senior Advisor