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July 22, 2005
Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood?
The DOJ has started its online National Sex Offender Registry. So far, 22 states are participating, but it plans to have every state included by the end of the year. It will incorporate each individual state's registry into a single, searchable database.
You can find the National Registry here.
State registries are handy tools to research neighborhoods in which you're considering moving, or to check out individuals who may be around your children. Though I would never rely on them entirely. States often have a backlog of offenders waiting to be evaluated for placement on the registry, and the location information on those listed isn't always updated as frequently as it should be. And you have to consider that these are just the offenders who've been convicted.
But it's a good place to start.
While any registry is a legitimate research tool, the information should NEVER be used to harass an individual listed. Not only is that illegal under federal and/or state law, it's just wrong.
Posted by Rita at July 22, 2005 03:03 AM