WA- Money for tracking offenders is well spent (in whos' opinion)

The real question the public should be asking is: Does all this tracking PREVENT further sex crimes? Today the Govenor is asking for an ADDITIONAL amount of money (a similar amount of money was appropriated last year as well) to continue TRACKING systems. Notice, not one word about whether the money spent last year prevented sex crimes. However, notice carefully, the comment "tracking system and public notification system improve public safety by helping people be informed so they can protect themselves and their family members, " so people can protect themselves.

Folks, if these tracking systems are working, then obviously you have not heard of a single sex crime in the past year? Right? Do I need to say more...this is happening in every state millions and maybe now up to billions are being spent with no proof that TRACKING prevents crime..

3-18-2009 Oregon:

Even in the face of an $8 billion, two-year state budget deficit, Gov. Chris Gregoire has continued to put millions of dollars into her budget request to keep track of sex offenders.

The Legislature must follow suit and spend $5 million because it is an investment in public safety.

The $5 million pays for law enforcement officers to verify the residency of all registered sex offenders in the state. It also pays for a computer tracking system that allows residents to learn which sex offenders live in their neighborhoods.

"It also allows residents to get a notification if a sex offender moves into their neighborhood," said Thurston County Sheriff Dan Kimball, a big supporter of the tracking system.

"Ours was one of the first three counties in the state to have this up and running," Kimball said. Thurston County receives about $150,000 a year from the state for the tracking system.

"We are facing some serious budget issues," Kimball said. "However, I've made a priority that registered sex offenders will be kept at the top of the list as far as we do, because even in tough budget times people expect us to look out for their safety. ... This is a top priority for me and we are going to continue to provide that service. People should not fear that because of that, we will not be checking up on sex offenders."

And there are many of them to keep tabs on. Thurston County has 680 registered sex offenders categorized as follows:

• Level 3 offenders: 51. These are considered at the greatest risk to reoffend.

• Level 2 offenders: 285. These are medium-risk offenders.

• Level 1 offenders: 309. These are considered a minimal risk.

• Thirty-five transients — those Level 1, 2 and 3 offenders who have no permanent address.

Kimball said that before the Legislature cracked down on sex offenders with legislation last year, tracking their whereabouts was a hit-and-miss proposition. Few law enforcement agencies had the financial resources to do a thorough job, he said.

That's why he commends the Legislature and governor for coming up with the money to pay for the tracking system.

Four times a year, Kimball's officers verify the address of Level 3 and Level 2 offenders. They do that by requiring the offenders to report in at Thurston County Fairgrounds and bring proof of residency with them.

March 9 was a reporting day and all but 10 of the offenders reported in. Kimball's officers immediately began to track the absent 10 and could arrest them for failing to report.

When the county first started forcing offenders to report in, about one-quarter of them didn't show up, Kimball said. Arrest warrants were issued, word got out in the offender community and that quickly brought the compliance levels into line, the sheriff said.

Once a year, Kimball's patrol deputies verify the address of every Level 1 sex offender with a personal visit to the offender's home. Some times it takes two or three trips by the deputy to catch the person at home for those face-to-face verifications. While it's not required by law, Thurston County deputies also do home visits to all Level 3 offenders once a year, Kimball said.

As for transients, they are required to report in to the sheriff's office once a week and explain their movements for the previous week. Those under the watchful eye of the state Department of Corrections wear GPS tracking devices.

While tracking the 35 transients is especially challenging, Kimball is convinced the sex offender tracking system as a whole improves public safety.

"It's a balancing act," he said. "We need to handle sex offender registrations responsibly. We don't want to instill unreasonable fears in people and at the same time we want to keep people informed."

The real value in the sex offender tracking system comes with the ability of citizens to know which of their neighbors are registered offenders. It's as simple as going to the sheriff's office's Web site (www.co.thurston.wa.us/sheriff), clicking on "Sex Offender Watch" and entering your address. The computer program will list registered offenders within a one-mile radius, provide the offenders' mug shots and detail the offenders' conviction records.

At the same Web site residents can register for e-mail alerts so they will be notified when a sex offender moves into their neighborhood.

"People often want guarantees. It's human nature," Kimball said. "There are no guarantees of safety, but I believe the (sex offender) tracking system and public notification system improve public safety by helping people be informed so they can protect themselves and their family members."

That's why the cash-strapped Legislature should continue this worthwhile public safety program and keep the governor's $5 million request in their final budget. ..Source.. by The Olympian