Information on worst sex offenders is available

Data is on public record

CALEB HEERINGA

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Through public records, citizens can obtain information on sex offenders living in their community.

The Washington State Community Protection Act of 1990 and the state Supreme Court’s decision in State vs. Ward in 1994 outline the standards for the release of information about sex offenders.

Level III offenders are those considered most likely to reoffend. Law enforcement agencies may notify the public of these offenders through pamphlets, media releases and notices to schools and businesses.

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Finding local records: Learn how to look up home values, find salaries of school and government workers and more at www.bellinghamherald.com/opengovernment/ .

Level II offenders are considered a moderate threat to reoffend. Nearby schools, homes and businesses are often notified of their whereabouts, but the community as a whole is not.

Level I offenders, the lowest level of classification, are generally first-time offenders. Victims and neighbors can obtain information on these offenders, but it is not widely released.

Information on any Level II or Level III offenders, including a photo, physical description, conviction history and approximate location, can be obtained in person at law enforcement offices. The same information is available online through various sources:

The Washington State Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs Web site, http://ml.waspc.org, lists information on Level II and III offenders across the state.

To view local offenders, select “county” from the pull-down menu at the top of the screen and search “Whatcom.” Offenders can also be found by city, ZIP code, street, last name and type of conviction.

The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office Web site lists more detailed information on local sex offenders. Visit the county’s Web site at www.co.whatcom.wa.us and click on “Sex Offenders” on the left side of the screen under “Hot Topics.” In addition to tips on how to prevent and deal with sexual abuse, the site has a link for “High-Risk (Level III) Sex Offenders.” These .pdf files have extensive information on offenders across Whatcom County, including the age and gender of the victim, as well as the offender’s relationship with the victim.

The Web site is updated once a month and contains information on offenders in all local cities as well as the county.

To view offenders in Bellingham, visit the city’s Web site at www.cob.org, click on “News” and then “Sex Offender Notices” under the “Quick Links” section. To view offenders in Ferndale, visit Ferndale Police Department’s Web site at www.ferndalepd.org. Click on the “Sex Offenders” link to the left. Be warned: Many of the sites list crime details that some people will find disturbing.

VIGILANTISM CAN HURT THE PUBLIC’S RIGHT TO KNOW

Nearly every Web site with information on sex offenders contains a disclaimer that warns against abuse of the information.

Just because a person is identified in a sex offender notification does not mean he or she is wanted by police. Many, though not all, offenders have completed sexual deviancy treatment.

Many sites warn that if members of the public use the information to harass or intimidate sex offenders, the incidents could lead to an end to public information on offenders’ whereabouts.

“We believe the only person who wins if community notification ends is the sex offender, since sex offenders derive their power through secrecy,” the county’s Web site reads.

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Saturday, Mar. 22, 2008

Information on worst sex offenders is available

Data is on public record

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