Offender Watch in effect
A
new website providing addresses of local sex offenders released into the
community is now online, courtesy of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s
Department and county police agencies.
Authorities
said the program is designed to alert residents to the presence of registered
sex offenders, but it does not track sexually violent predators. “That comes
under a different watch,” said Sgt. Alex Tipolt, the
sheriff’s public information officer.
The
website can be accessed on the Internet by navigating to
http://www.sbsheriff.org and clicking on the Offender Watch link. The names of
registered sex offenders living within a mile of a given address are listed,
along with information about the nature of their conviction. Residents also can
visit their local law enforcement office websites to access the website.
Registered
sex offenders for the most part fall under the category of minor infractions
against children younger than 14 years old. Users can locate offenders living
near their homes, workplaces, schools and daycare facilities.
Sex
offenders’ names are listed when they are out of prison, but on parole or
probation.
Sgt.
Tipolt said not all sex offenders are serial
criminals or are focused on young children. Among teenagers, there are
occurrences where one partner is a minor in his or her late teens and the other
is in the early teens.
Offenders
who are found to be mentally ill can be sent to state hospitals for treatment.
Sex offenders can be rehabilitated after serving a sentence, and never
reoffend, Tipolt said.