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The department said in a statement that its Victim
Information Notification Everyday, or VINE system, malfunctioned
during routine maintenance sending "numerous notifications to
victims in error."
The statement added that contractor Appriss was working to
repair the problem and would send out an alert to everyone who
received a false notification.
"DOC and Appriss apologize for the erroneous notifications, and
are committed to remedying the issue as soon as possible," the
statement said.
The Oregonian, citing corrections spokeswoman Elizabeth Craig,
reported that the system sent out around 8,000 erroneous alerts.
Local broadcaster KGW-TV reported that one notification said
infamous convicted murderer Ward Weaver III, who was serving a
life sentence following his 2004 conviction for killing two
teenage girls, was slated for release.
"Instantly horrified," Brea Day told KGW-TV after receiving word
that her cousin's killer was being released. "It's very
upsetting."
The system allows victims and members of the public to track
scheduled release dates for inmates of county jails and state
adult and youth correctional facilities as well as those who are
on community supervision.
Oregon launched the service in 2001, becoming the 11th state to
do so, the statement added.
(Reporting by Curtis Skinner in San Francisco; Editing by Pravin
Char)
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