DPS launches online sex offenders registry

7-25-2010 Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI):

THE Department of Public Safety finally uploaded the profiles of sex offenders on its website on Friday afternoon, days before the deadline for compliance with the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

“We are asking the public or individuals to call us if they want to include a profile or if they believe an individual should not be included,” DPS acting spokesman and Sex Offender Registry officer-in-charge PO2 Jason Tarkong told the Variety shortly after he uploaded the profiles.

Tarkong said they are still scanning pictures of sex offenders taken years ago.

The public may contact the Sex Offender Registry Office at 664-9026 or 664-9001 for more information.

In July 2009, DPS submitted to the Attorney General’s Office a standard operating procedure for uploading sex offenders.

On Thursday afternoon, Variety learned that Assistant Attorney General Russel Lorfing was at the Sex Offender Registry office, assisting Tarkong and another officer with the details of the profiles to be uploaded.

In her blog site “Unheard No More!” human rights advocate Wendy Doromal said: “Congratulations to the CNMI DPS for getting this information out to the public. It is especially important because of the recent string of sexual assaults in Saipan.”

The former Rota teacher, added, however that DPS may still be “in the process of updating the list. If you put in some names under name search, you cannot locate the sexual offender, but he is listed under the general zip code search.”

The local registry is linked to the national sex offender registration and notification website.

The U.S. Department of Justice said states and territories have until July 27, 2010 to substantially implement the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, although a request for a one-year extension may be submitted.

Failure to substantially implement the federal law will result in a 10 percent reduction in a state or territory’s Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funding.

In the CNMI, criminal sex offenders are required by law to declare in writing the actual living address at which he will reside upon release.

DPS said an intentional failure to provide a timely and accurate written declaration will be a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 and one year of imprisonment. ..Source.. Andrew O. De Guzman - Reporter


CNMI sex offenders' registry now online

The Department of Public Safety has launched the CNMI Sex Offenders Registry Public Web site, http://cnmi.nsopw.gov.

This Web site was made possible through the Tribe and Territory Sex Offender Registry System, which is provided by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. The purpose is to assist the tribes and territories in implementing Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act registry system requirements.

The public can view the Web site at http://cnmi.nsopw.gov. They may also access the Web site on links found on the DPS Web site at http://www.dps.gov.mp, or the U.S. national sex offender public Web site at http://www.nsopw.gov.

“This should serve notice to all registered sex offenders who believe the CNMI is a haven where they can avoid registering as a sex offender,” said police spokesman Jason T. Tarkong.

TTSORS serves a dual purpose. It functions as the administrative registry system and as the public sex offender registry Web site system for the CNMI. TTSORS is cost-effective and provided free of charge by the SMART Office, so the CNMI did not need to develop or purchase any special information technology systems to have a SORNA-compliant registry system.

SORNA requirements are already included in TTSORS. As a result, the CNMI automatically participates with the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Web site.

“I would like to thank Adam Lehmann, IT program manager, from the Institute for Intergovernmental Research, and Lori McPherson, senior policy advisor, SMART Office, USDOJ, for making TTSORS possible,” said Tarkong.

The Web site system was approved by the CNMI Sex Offenders Registration administrative board, which consists of executives members from Department of Corrections, Department of Public Safety, Division of Youth Services, Criminal Justice Planning Agency, Office of the Attorney General, NMI Office of Adult Probation, NMI Parole, with the assistance of the United States Marshal Service. (DPS) ..Source..