Sometimes the criminal justice system can seem singularly focused on catching and punishing the bad guys — and gals.

And, in a way, that is exactly what we all want it to do, so long as the crime occurs to someone else.

When we find ourselves personally victims of crime, however, sometimes the system can seem cold and a bit aloof. It’s as if all the attention is on the accused or convicted with little thought given to the victim.

Too often when a crime happens, government spends an incredible amount of resources on the criminal and very little on the victim.

That has never seemed fair.

Often, only the most persistent victims and their families can become big enough pests to the justice officials to stay well informed of the status of their perpetrators.

That’s why we were happy to learn Adams County is now participating in the Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification system.

The system — funded by a federal grant and operated by the Mississippi Department of Corrections — aims to help provide timely information to crime victims.

SAVIN provides crime victims free, confidential updates on an offender’s status so victims can always know where the criminal is located.

Such a system is a rare example of a good government program — one that puts information back in the hands of the law-abiding citizens of our country.

We are grateful that the Adams County Sheriff’s Office is participating in the program. Open government is good government and an open government with an eye on protecting the rights and worries of law-abiders is even better.