1. Sex offender registries are only as accurate as their last update. This can be a problem on several fronts. If the offender is not on active community supervision (probation, parole, etc) then they are responsible for keeping their registry current. Few do, obvious reasons. For those being actively supervised, the registering agency (could be probation/parole, could be state bureau of investigation, could be local law enforcement) must update the registry regularly. One lazy/incompetent person there screws it up. One snafu in the system, such as a computer being down, somebody on vacation, whatever, could mess it up. Because there are likely several updates sitting on desks right now waiting to be entered...and the person keying it in is off on weekends, but you just checked the registry and freaked out because one is near you...you thought. Far from an ideal system, but better than nothing.
2. The requirements about registering do vary from state to state. For example, in Tennessee they must be on the registry for the duration of their sentence. Some must remain for life, some may petition to be removed ten years after completing their sentence.
3. The registries only show
convicted sex offenders. For every convicted offender there are probably twenty that aren't convicted. No way to know about them at all.
4. Residency restrictions. They vary also. Again in Tennessee, they cannot reside or work within 1000 feet of any school, day care, child care facility, park, playground, or "other facility that exists primarily for patronage by minors and/or their guardians". There are exceptions. If a school is built after an offender establishes residency at an address, the offender may not be required to relocate.
5. Vigilantism. I'm all for it. You better believe that if one lived too close to me there would be a persistent campaign of harassment waged. Go ahead and prosecute me. I dare ya.
6.
but on the other hand I would want to know if one was down the block...and chances are I would watch him like a hawk...but what if they payed their debt to society, or where actually innocent..
(Not pickin on ya Paul) I have yet to meet a rehabilitated sex offender. I won't say it can't happen but I have yet to see one. I do supervise one about whom I have serious doubt as to his guilt. I don't wear a black robe, I didn't sentence him, and I wasn't on the jury. All the others I have supervised (probably about 120 over the past eight years now) show/showed negligible significant rehabilitation.
7. As a general rule, sex offenders are the ideal probationers/parolees. They report like they are told to, rarely pick up new charges unless it's a new sex offense, usually pass drug screens...all the stuff we want to see. Two main reasons for that. One, they do hard time in jail and have zero interest in being there. two, they want to be in the community so they can have access to more victims, either real or imagined. Plain and simple, they thrive on stimulation. They don't get access to their victim population in the slam.
*web-site, I mean
