MT- State's Sexual or Violent Offender Registry is working

Folks, this is a classic news report, remember its campaign time. The article title says "The Registry is Working" then it goes on to tell us everything that the state has done as to sex crimes. Now, just because the state spins its wheels doing something, or many things, is no proof that what they have done is at all effective in controlling crime or offenders. This article is absent one iota of proof that the state registry is working, the article only shows how the state spins its wheels spending taxpayers money. No statistics to show anything to support the claims. Guess they like to pat themselves on the back, good boy Joe...

10-30-2008 Montana:

In the heat of the campaign season, the Montana Sexual or Violent Offender Registry, or SVOR, has garnered more than its share of headlines. What has gotten lost, however, is the hard work local law enforcement and the Department of Justice have done to protect the public from offenders.

Beginning in 1989, Montana required sex offenders to register with the state. In 1995, Montana strengthened its registration statutes and became one of very few states in the nation to also require some violent offenders to register.

Over the years, the SVOR has evolved in response to changes in federal law and concerns from Montana citizens and law enforcement. Most recently, in May 2007, Montana enacted Senate Bill 547. In addition to changes related to sentencing, community notification and other provisions, SB547 required the Department of Justice to post photographs of all sex offenders on the SVOR website.

In the months since SB547 took effect, the DOJ has worked closely with local law enforcement and other state agencies to comply with all the changes required under SB547, including posting photographs of more than 1,700 registered offenders.

Montana sheriff's offices and police departments deserve a great deal of credit for all they've done. They do much more than just submit photographs and registration information to the department's Web site.

They routinely check offenders' whereabouts.

They communicate with parole officers on offender status and/or other infractions.

They notify the public when an offender changes addresses.

They investigate and recommend prosecution when an offender does not comply with state law.

And they participate in DOJ audits to ensure that all registrant information is accurate and timely.

I'm proud of law enforcement's success in combating sexual predators in Montana. By focusing our investigative know-how on the problem, our efforts have made a difference.

About six years ago, Montana Sheriffs and Police Chiefs supported the development of a state Computer Crime Unit designed to forensically examine and investigate computer crimes, including child pornography. Since its inception, the unit has successfully investigated approximately 150 cases of child sexual exploitation.

Montana has a number of Internet-crimes-against-children task forces designed to investigate online predators soliciting children and supplying child pornography.

Investigators in ICAC participate in online chat activities with suspected sexual predators. About 20 local and state law enforcement agencies in Montana participate in these task forces.

Finally, the Department of Justice has taken proactive steps to educate young people and the adults in their lives about Internet safety.

Earlier this year, with help from the Montana Safe Schools Center at the University of Montana, the DOJ launched Safe in YourSpace, a guide to cybersafety in Big Sky Country. The site— www.safeinyourspace.org— has specific information for teens, parents and teachers. It covers a variety of topics, including Internet predators and cyberbullying. The section for teens has safety information and tips on e-mail, instant messaging, social networking and peer-to-peer networking. The new site received a Conference of Western Attorneys General award for Best Consumer Outreach.

This year, the Attorney General's Office has reached agreements with two popular social networking sites — MySpace and Facebook — to take steps to better protect young people using the sites.

MySpace agreed to create age and identity verification technology, to respond within 72 hours to complaints about inappropriate content, and to commit more resources to reviewing and classifying photographs and discussion groups.

Facebook agreed to enforce "age locking" for existing and new profiles, while establishing a 24-hour hotline to respond to law enforcement inquiries.

The bottom line is that Montana has effective laws and rules on sex offenders, registration and notification. We have put together a combination of solid laws, public education and good, old-fashioned police work that is very effective.

The Montana Department of Justice and local law enforcement agencies across the state work together — and work hard — to combat sexual predators. We take Montana's sex offender registration laws very seriously and we are proud of the Registry we have created. Take a look at www.doj.mt.gov/svorand www.safeinyourspace.org and see what they have to offer. ..News Source.. by MIKE BATISTA