Friday, Mar. 16, 2007
Web sources help public keep track of sex offenders
Addresses of the most dangerous are online
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closeEditor’s note: This story is part of a series for Sunshine Week, a national effort highlighting access to public records.
Media outlets across the country run notifications whenever a sex offender moves or is released from prison, but anyone can find out if an offender lives on their street.
Local law enforcement agencies list registered Level III sex offenders living in Whatcom County on their Web sites. Information includes physical description, age, general address, description of their charges and a photo.
Sex offenders are required to register with the state and are classified into three categories: Levels I, II and III.
Level III offenders, those deemed most likely to reoffend after being released from prison, are the highest classification level. Law enforcement agencies notify the public of these people’s whereabouts via pamphlets, media releases and notices to schools and businesses.
Level II offenders are considered a moderate threat to the public and nearby schools, homes and businesses would likely be notified of their whereabouts, but the general public wouldn’t be. The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office doesn’t allow the public to search for Level II offenders on its Web site.
Level I offenders, the lowest level of classification, are generally first-time offenders. Neighbors and victims may be notified of the offender’s whereabouts, but the general public can’t easily search for their names or locations.
Information about Level II and III sex offenders can be requested in person at law enforcement offices, but information can be more readily found online through several government and private Web sites.
STATEWIDE DATABASE
Level II and III offender notifications are posted on the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs Web site, http://ml.waspc. org.
To find sex offenders countywide, at the top of the screen, pick “county” from the pull-down menu, and type in the county you want to search.
You also can search for sex offenders by city, ZIP code, street, offender’s last name and type of conviction from the pull-down menu.
OFFENDERS NEAR YOU
To find sex offenders near your residence, click on “Offenders near me” on the lefthand side of the association’s site (http://ml.waspc.org).
Enter your street address and city or ZIP code.
Choose the radius you want to search.
Choose the type of offender.
Click “search.” When the names come up, click on the name to see more information about the offender, including location, a photo, physical description and charges.
SHERIFF’S OFFICE SITE
More detailed information about Level III sex offenders can be found on the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office Web site at www.co.whatcom.wa.us. Click on “Sex Offenders” on the left side of the screen under “Hot Topics.”
Click on “High risk (Level III) sex offenders.”
Read the information and disclaimer and click “I agree” to see information on the people listed.
Click on a person’s name to read information about them, including the actions that led to their conviction. Warning: Some descriptions are graphic.
BELLINGHAM POLICE SITE
Information on Level III offenders living in Bellingham can be found on the Bellingham Police Department Web site at www.cob.org/police. Click on “Level III sex offenders” on the right side of the screen.
Click on the person’s name to find more information about them. Warning: Some descriptions are graphic.
FERNDALE POLICE SITE
Information on Level III offenders living in Ferndale can be found on the Ferndale Police Web site at www.ferndalepd.org. Click on the “sex offenders” link on the left side of the screen.
Read the information and disclaimer and click on “I agree” to see information on the people listed.
Click on a person’s name to read information about them.
NATIONAL DATABASE
To find Level II and III sex offenders around the country, you can go to the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Web site, run by the U.S. Department of Justice, at www.nsopr.gov. Read the information and disclaimer and click “I agree.”
Click on the state or states you want to search, or type locations into the bar on the left side of the screen.
When names appear, click on one to find more information on the person.
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