FL- FDLE May Have to Cut Sex Offender Registry

11-15-2008 Florida:

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Deena Trent does everything she can to keep her four-year-old, Elizabeth, safe.

One thing Trent does that is with a regular check of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's sex offender registry.

"I check it at least two times a year. I'm a mother of five. So, I want to know who is around me and what they've done," says Trent.

That resource could be gone soon. It is on the potential budget cut chopping block for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

"We're to the point where we have to cut services," says Assistant Special Agent in Charge Steve Donaway.

$8 million were cut from FDLE's budget in 2007. In 2008, it was about $12 million.

Now, the state has alerted agencies 10% of their budgets may have to go in 2009. That means $18 million would have to be cut from FDLE.

Besides the sex offender registry, FDLE is also considering getting rid of the state's Amber Alert as another way to save some money.

"I think its ridiculous. I think that in these tough economic times, taking away things that are vital to our community is not a good thing," says Trent.

FDLE says it wants to keep the resources around, but three years of budget cuts means it's time something important will have to go. Donaway says 200 jobs could be gone.

"We've always ebb and flowed, but we've never laid anyone off."

Donaway says the layoffs are now a reality in the budget crunch.

Trent just hopes those they let go do not effect how she keeps her kids safe.

"These services are important and they should stay." ..News Source.. by Jackelyn Barnard