New Program Helps Track Sex Offenders

Given that states must report registrant to the National Registry, there is no logical reason to have state registries oe their extortion type fees. State and local registries are nothing more than Prima Donna registries. Anyone wanting information can get it on the National site. These Prima Donna registries waste taxpayer monies.

1-2-2014 Idaho:

The Idaho State Police has a new program that alerts residents when sex offenders move.

You can choose a one, three or five mile radius from your home.

Meanwhile, all forty-four counties in the state are now on board with 'Offender Watch'.

When we last spoke with Staff Sergeant Doug Sugden of the Twin Falls County Sheriff's Office...Twin Falls was one of 9 counties in Idaho to use "Offender Watch".

That's not the case anymore.

"All of the Sheriff's Offices have Offender Watch, which is why the fees went up to $80... when an offender registers now, he pays 80 dollars instead of 40 which helps to pay for the software," Sugden explains.

With more than 200 sex offenders in Twin Falls County, Sugden has a big responsibility.

But "Offender Watch" eases the workload.

"Say one of my offenders moves from Twin Falls to Jerome; he can import the file, it saves time, effort and will instantly send me a notification that he has moved from my area to another jurisdiction," Sugden points out.

While he says the email alert is more of a benefit for the citizens, he's pleased to see the state is on board.

"It's good that the state has picked up on that and is doing what we've been doing since 2006," he says.

We posted on our Facebook page, asking if local citizens would utilize the email alerts.

Dawn writes, "Yes, I would use it. I have children and grandchildren. Although it is usually the ones that don't register you need to worry about. It's always good to have knowledge."

Diana writes, “Yes, not because I think that all people on that list are a danger to my children, but because those who are need to know that people are paying attention. And it's not just our children... Single women, elderly women, stay at home moms, etc. are at risk."

But not everyone would.

Marie feels "it wouldn't change anything I’m doing already anyway. Plus many people on the list shouldn't be there."

On the ISP site, you can even find out when a particular registrant moves, by clicking the link, "track registrant", available on the registrant's page. ..Source..w/Video by Brittany Cooper