MapSexOffenders.com

US Not Alone in the Struggle to Monitor Sex Offenders

2005-12-21T15:24:00.000-08:00

December 21, 2005

Despite the adoption of a new system meant to monitor the whereabouts of sex offenders, Japan is finding it difficult to keep track of every offender once released from prison. The National Police Agency (NPA) cannot locate nine of the 83 recently released child sex offenders. The ffenders went missing immediately upon release from prison.

Japan’s new system was initiated following the kidnap and murder of a 7-year-old girl by a man with a history of sexual predation on young girls. The system does not require offenders to report new addresses when they move, for fear that excessive surveillance might prevent the reintegration of offenders into society. NPA officials admit that the system has flaws that will make it hard to keep track of anyone who wants to disappear, and recent events may spur Japan to look for new methods of prevention.

Meanwhile, several states in the US are searching for ways to improve surveillance of convicted sexual predators. Some, like Kentucky, are actually sweeping the state, looking for non-compliant offenders. Others, like Oklahoma, have proposals of GPS monitoring to prevent losing the whereabouts of offenders in the first place.

For more information see the Daily Yomiuri Online, the Japan Times Online, and the Courier-Journal.com.

Mayor Frustrated in his Attempts to Increase Public’s Awareness of Sex Offenders

2005-12-07T17:06:00.000-08:00

December 7, 2005

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles recently proposed televising the addresses of registered sex offenders to increase public awareness. However, a bill signed into law just a few months ago by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger prohibits the city from broadcasting such information on any offender who is not under current investigation.

Villaraigosa’s proposal consisted of plans to air the addresses and pictures of sex offenders released into the neighborhoods of LA over the city government channel. Although the plan was well underway when halted by Schwarzenegger’s bill, Villaraigosa and the LAPD have changed tactics, and are now working on public service announcements promoting web sites that contain information released under Megan’s Law. Villaraigosa spokesman Joe Ramallo voiced the mayor’s concern that the information is still not being distributed widely enough for adequate public awareness.

Councilman Dennis Zine, a member of the committee that oversees the LAPD, stated his resolve to continue pursuing the televising of detailed Megan’s Law information. He insists that such programming is necessary to protect children, and will keep looking for a way to "make it happen."

For more information see MercedSearch.com

Dyersville May Ban Sex Offenders Completely

2005-12-07T17:04:00.000-08:00

December 6, 2005

Dyersville, Iowa might bring the sex offender dilemma to new heights, as officials deliberate an ordinance that would ban sex offenders from living anywhere within city limits.

Current Iowa state law, implemented in 2002, restricts sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of schools or day cares. Several cities across the state have extended this ban to enough public places to essentially restrict sex offenders from living in the city at all, but Dyersville is the first to propose a straightforward ban on offenders.

Opponents of the ordinance site the difficulty of enforcing such a law, and declare that the rise in local ordinances has practically made the entire state of Iowa off-limits to sex offenders. Others are concerned with the false sense of security that having no registered sex offenders living within city limits might create.

Iowa officials assert that if instated, the ban will send a clear message of non-tolerance to potential sex offenders and likely re-offenders.

For more information see the WCF Courier

Officials Call for Public Vigilance

2005-12-05T13:37:00.000-08:00

December 1, 2005

Nearly 60 sex offenders from the Mississippi Gulf Coast are still unaccounted for since being displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Although this number is greatly reduced from the recent count of 180, it is still high enough to make both citizens and officials wary.

Sex offenders in Mississippi are required to re-register every 90 days in person, and must notify the state of any change of address within 10 days. Many states require even visiting sex offenders to register if they are staying for longer than 10 days.

As the 60 non-compliant offenders could be residing in any state, and due to the high recidivism rate among sexual predators, officials call for public vigilance. Mississippi’s State Registry has a list of names and pictures of all the non-compliant offenders. Familiarize yourself with this list, and if you recognize any of the offenders, notify your local police department immediately.

For more information see HattiesburgAmerican.com

Oprah Nabs Another Sex Offender

2005-11-29T15:12:00.000-08:00

November 29, 2005

The efforts of the Oprah Winfrey Show brought Walter Edward Myer, 66, into custody on November 22, 2005. This is the third arrest since the October 4, 2005 debut of Oprah's Predator Watch List, which promised $100,000 to anyone who gives information leading to the capture of wanted sex offenders.

The Alabaman was found in Costa Rica, where he had been working as an English teacher, after fleeing his court hearing eight years ago. Myers is accused of 114 cases of child molestation in addition to several accounts of child pornography.

The FBI praised Oprah’s efforts, adding that they would like to continue involving the media in heightening public awareness in cases like Myer’s. Michael Gavin, supervisory senior resident agent of the Montgomery FBI, stated that a “vigilant public” is the best defense against sex crimes.

For more information see TheMontgomeryAdvertiser.com, and Oprah’s Website.

Pennsylvania's Registry Rated Sub Par

2005-11-29T14:43:00.000-08:00

November 28, 2005

Pennsylvania recently received a "failing" grade for its sex offender registry on the Parents for Meghan's Law website. The site's executive director, Laura A. Ahearn, stated that a registry needs to provide more details in order to help citizens protect themselves.

The Pennsylvania registry only provides street addresses for the sexually violent predators, which constitute a very small percentage of the state's predators. The state also fails to provide information about the age or gender of the victims, or even the nature of the crime.

According to Lt. Janet McNeal, head of Pennsylvania's Megan's Law Enforcement, the database includes everything state law will allow. McNeal admitted that it is difficult for Pennsylvanians to get information which is easily accessed by citizens of other states.

When asked how the situation would be improved, McNeal stated that it is now up to legislators to change the law. She said that if Pennsylvania could post the addresses of all sex offenders, the problems surrounding the registry would be solved.

MapSexOffenders.com is currently unable to map Pennsylvania, and we encourage citizens to contact their legislators and encourage them to change the state's laws.

For more information see the PostGazette.com.

Judge Deems Pataki's Actions Illegal

2005-11-17T16:49:00.000-08:00

November 17, 2005
After years of being frustrated in attempting to set up legislation to allow confinement of violent sex offenders after their prison terms’ end, Governor Pataki turned to existing law. Using the state’s involuntary commitment law, Pataki ordered 12 offenders to be held in psychiatric hospitals after the end of their prison terms. This seemed a success for Pataki until his actions were ruled illegal, and the men ordered to be released, by State Supreme Court Justice Jacqueline Silbermann.

Before the end of their prison terms, the 12 offenders were examined by three state-appointed psychiatrists and found in need of further confinement. However, a lawyer for the Mental Hygiene Legal Services said that the psychiatrists must be chosen by the court, not the state. She also declared that if the court-appointed psychiatrists found the patient in need of hospitalization, the state must then return to court, inform the patient’s attorney, and finally ask for a court hearing before taking any action. The state defended its actions by saying that because the men were to be released so soon and posed a threat to society, another section of state law allowed for confinement without all the legal steps.

Although Silbermann admitted to the validity of the state’s concern over the release of the violent offenders into the community, she deemed the state’s actions a violation of the offenders’ rights. Pataki contends that the court is giving sex offenders and rapists more rights and protections than regular citizens, and intends to appeal the decision.

For more information see the North Country Gazette and Newsday.com

6 News in NC Discovers Sex Offender Living Next to a School

2005-11-15T14:34:00.000-08:00

Investigators from 6 News tracked down a sex offender living right next to Forest Heights Elementary School in Gastonia, NC. The investigators also learned that the sex offender had been living there for months before either the school or local officials were notified of his presence.

Michael Leach’s original child sex offense put him on probation, requiring him to get his residence as well as place of work approved by a probation officer. However, when Leach failed to register as a sex offender, he was fined and placed on a different probation. The terms of this new probation do not carry the same restrictions on where Leach can and can and cannot live, leaving him free to move as close to children as he wishes.

6 News reports that since learning of Leach’s presence, the elementary school has instituted several protective measures, such as escorts for children walking past Leach’s house, to keep the children safe. However, reporters also caught a young child on tape visiting Leach’s home on multiple occasions. His probation officers were unaware of such visits, and are currently investigating the probation violation.

Currently, a law that would require sex offenders to live at least a quarter mile away from schools is stuck in review at Raleigh.

For more information see WCNC.com

Hundreds of Michigan Offenders Arrested for Registry Violations

2005-11-14T15:22:00.000-08:00

November 11, 2005
Police in Michigan recently finished a statewide sweep, looking for violators of the state sex offender registry law. The 55-day roundup yielded 846 arrests, with 465 facing charges of failure to verify address and 355 facing charges of failure to report new addresses.

Michigan State law requires sex offenders to confirm their addresses with authorities four times a year, with a maximum prison sentence for non-compliance set at 93 days. The law also stipulates that offenders must register new addresses within 10 days of moving, or face up to four years in prison.

As of November 1, the Michigan Sex Offender Registry consisted of 37,916 names. With police still unsure of the whereabouts of thousands of these offenders, officials are letting sex offenders know that this was only the first of many sweeps to crack down on non-compliance.

For more information see CourtTV.com and SOOEveningNews.com

Repeat Sex Offender Rapes 11-year-old Girl

2005-11-07T15:44:00.000-08:00

November 7, 2005
A man was arrested on Sunday in Texas City, and now waits in jail with a $350,000 bond. The steep bond was assigned due to the severity of the charge of rape, and to the man’s status as a previously convicted sex offender.

The 11-year-old victim was out with a family friend Friday night when their car broke down. Troy Norman Volk, 43, pulled up to offer assistance. After connecting the jumper cables, he told the girl to get into his truck and push the accelerator.

When the jump did not work, Volk drove off with the 11-year-old under the pretence that they were going to buy parts for the car. Instead, Volk drove to a nearby house where he raped the young girl. He then drove to a bank, where he dropped her off and drove away. The girl was treated at a local hospital before returning to her family at the end of this weekend.

Police tracked Volk’s truck down with the help of witness accounts. At the time of arrest, Volk was still on parole for sexually assaulting two 35-year-old women in 1985.

For more information see The Galveston County News

Minnesota Company Seeks to Prevent Sexual Offences

2005-11-07T15:32:00.000-08:00

November 7, 2005
New ads are appearing in Minnesota that directly target a group which few, if any, have ever advertised to—potential sex offenders. One such ad features a visibly distressed mother guarding her young daughter from the father. The ads are for a group called "Stop it now!", an organization which aims at encouraging potential sex offenders to seek help before their behavior hurts another person. Emphasizing prevention through educating and providing counsel for adults, the group lays out its goals as the following:

Increasing the public’s knowledge of the perpetration of child sexual abuse.
Teaching adults the skills to recognize signs of sexually abusive behavior.
Working with families, peers and friends on how to intervene before a child is harmed.
Challenging those who abuse, and families and friends who influence them to seek help, stop abusing, and face accountability

The group is unique in its approach to understanding sex offenders as a demographic group. Their research has yielded not only the organization’s distinctive advertisements, but also possible new methods for screening and detecting potential sex offenders. Although "Stop it Now!" functions only on a local level, its director, Yvonne Cournoyer, has hopes that they will be able to expand in the near future.

For more information see the Washington Post Online, and Stop it Now!’s Website

Missing Sex Offenders Found in Arizona

2005-11-07T14:23:00.000-08:00

November 1, 2005
In the confusion following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, officials lost track of 4,500 sex offenders. A private company conducting background checks found at least five of the convicted offenders in the homes of Arizona citizens.

Keeping track of sexual predators is the responsibility of each individual state. Arizona has its own troubles keeping tabs on offenders—the locations of 763 sex offenders are currently unknown in Arizona—a problem now exacerbated by the fact that Mississippi and Louisiana had no way to record the movements of thousands of offenders fleeing during the turmoil of Katrina.

Officials are meeting obstacles while attempting to pinpoint the whereabouts of the missing sex offenders. As the Federal Emergency Management Agency will not release lists of evacuees to officials due to privacy laws, officers are left to the tedious process of manually tracking down the absconders.

For more information see AZCentral.com and Channel 5 News

Ex-Sex Offender Cautions Parents on Halloween

2005-11-07T14:22:00.000-08:00

October 31, 2005
While officials across the country are stepping up security and implementing safety programs to keep sex offenders away from children on Halloween, a recovering sex offender warns parents that these measures are still not enough.

The 31-year-old convicted offender says that Halloween is a time of excitement for sex offenders, and asserts that there are thousands of predators just waiting for children to walk up to their doors. He pleads with parents to not give these men the chance they are waiting for by being aware of "who your children are going to be with," and by not letting "them out of your sight." This ex-offender is currently going through therapy and is speaking out because he wants to help parents.

For more information see Fox11AZ.com

Fear of Cost Prevented “Real Time” Tracking of Sex Offenders

2005-11-07T14:15:00.000-08:00

October 31, 2005
Last week, Iowa reviewed its new sex offender law enabling officials to track sex offenders with digital bracelets. During the review, the legislative committee was shocked to learn that the bracelets did not track in "real time."

Governor Tom Vilsack’s original proposal covered constant supervision, but the committee faltered when told how much the plan would cost. Vilsack asserts that the committee was fully aware that the amount they were willing to spend would not cover the amount needed for real time surveillance. He also assures that if the committee were to decide to purchase more expensive equipment, he would be more than willing to sign the plan.

For more information see Radio Iowa

MapSexOffenders.com ready for Halloween - Safety Tips

2005-10-27T09:31:00.000-07:00

October 26, 2005
With so many people hiding behind masks and costumes, Halloween can be a scary time that makes children easy targets for sexual predators. With this creepy holiday less than a week away, MapSexOffenders.com provides a convenient way to steer clear of sexual predators handing out candy in 37 states—see if your state is available on the list below.

Although some states are working to keep offenders away from your children this Halloween, many are not, and your family's best defense is being informed. MapSexOffenders.com will help you know your neighborhood and protect your children.

In Illinois, sex offenders have been banned from passing out candy on Halloween, and Virginia's "Trick-nor-Treat" program accomplishes the same goal. In Parker County, TX, sex offenders are being taken off the streets on Halloween night. Despite these safeguards, psychologist Dr. Paul Hauck reminds us to still be careful, as sex offenders can hide. "First of all, it's dark outside. Second, he can disguise himself very easily1.”

Many parents are now opting to take their kids off the streets entirely by choosing to attend family parties or trunk-or-treating activities and parties put on at local churches. However, police do want people crippled with fear—it can be safe for your child to go trick-or-treating if you take the necessary precautions. Ohio Sheriff Jim Karnes stresses that no child should trick-or-treat without an adult supervisor. Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro gives another precaution by advising parents to visit a sex offender database online before going trick-or-treating.

We hope people can use MapSexOffenders.com not only to map their own street but also to take some time and really be aware of the sex offenders in their own neighborhoods. As parents become more attentive, they will be more able to spot—and keep their children away from—sexual predators. Our site aims to help parents make this Halloween a safe and fun holiday. MapSexOffenders.com has posted Halloween Safety Tips, which we encourage parents and guardians to take time to review.

1 Eyewitness 4 News

Society’s Duty to Protect Children

2005-10-27T09:30:00.000-07:00

Society’s Duty to Protect Children

October 27, 2005
Australia’s 44-year-old Leon Wicks was given a sentence of five years with three years non-parole for pleading guilty to having sex with a child prostitute in Thailand. During sentencing, the Australian judge cited society’s duty to protect children “no matter what country they live in.” The crown is now appealing the sentence, hoping to get a harsher prison term to set a precedent for protecting children from sex offenders. For more information see 702 ABC Sydney

The Need for Pedophile-Free Zones Questioned

2005-10-27T09:29:00.000-07:00

The Need for Pedophile-Free Zones Questioned
October 27, 2005

Phillipsburg, NJ has run into opposition as it attempts to pass a pedophile-free zone ordinance. The wife of a convicted sex offender contests the constitutionality of the ordinance, saying that it will violate not only her husband’s, but her civil rights as well. Speaking under anonymity, the woman also complains of the restrictions placed on her husband by Meagan’s Law.

Although officials cite the high relapse rate among sex offenders as the main reason for the predator-free zones, opposition questions the validity of the argument. City leaders such as Terrence M. Wall, Keansburg’s borough manager, state that the legislation creates a rightful barrier between sex offenders and children. Wall insists that as this is a crime that cannot be recompensed, those who have raped a child have lost their rights.

Various boroughs and townships throughout New Jersey already have sex offender-free zones in action, and they have been met with enormous popularity. When weighed against the few it would inconvenience, it appears that the public has found protecting children more important.

For more information see The Express-Times

Sex Offender and Lawyer Label Lengthy Sentence for Second Convictions "Cruel"

2005-10-21T15:33:00.000-07:00

October 21, 2005
On Thursday Corbett LeGrand was sentenced to 25 years-to-life for his second sex offender conviction by Judge Alan Hedegard. LeGrand and his lawyer Greg La Forge claim that the lengthy sentence is "cruel and unusual" and are working on an appeal.

LeGrand was convicted two years ago of molesting a 13-year-old girl in the back of her stepfather's car. La Forge attempted to get this previous conviction dismissed based on new evidence and claims of innocence, but to no avail. Judge Hedegard says that California state law presented him with no choice but to give LeGrand a double sentence for this second crime of assaulting and molesting another teenage girl. LeGrand must serve 21 years before becoming eligible for parole.

For more information see Hollister Free Lance

Convicted Sex Offender Fights to Keep His Newborn

2005-10-21T15:31:00.000-07:00

October 21, 2005
The newborn baby of a convicted sex offender came into an unstable world on Tuesday as child welfare services arrived with a warrant to seize the child 24 hours after its birth. Father DaiShin WolfHawk and mother Melissa WolfHawk would not give the baby over to officials and are shocked at the county's actions.

Schuylkill County Children and Youth Services were given the warrant due to the danger posed to the child by family circumstances. DaiShin WolfHawk pled guilty to rape and sodomy in 1983 under an assumed name. County officials have also procured a parole report depicting that DaiShin sexually abused his daughter in addition to a doctor's report detailing Melissa WolfHawk's history of drug abuse and prostitution.

The couple denies the aforementioned claims and is currently fighting in court with the aid of the American Civil Liberties Union to keep their child, whose name they will not disclose.

For more information see WashingtonPost.com and NEPA News

Oprah links to MapSexOffenders.com

2005-10-20T14:15:00.000-07:00

October 19, 2005
After Oprah’s show entitled “Kidnapped by a Pedophile: The Shasta Groene Tragedy” Oprah’s website featured links to related websites. One of the featured websites was MapSexOffenders.com, which provides useful information to help protect children. Oprah has recently launched a campaign against sex offenders, featuring wanted offenders on her show and giving a reward to those who help law enforcement in the capture of the offender.
For more information see Oprah’s Website

Oprah Speaks Out

2005-10-14T15:50:00.000-07:00

October 12, 2005
Within a week of beginning a campaign to capture sex offenders, Oprah has had not one, but two successes. Within 48 hours after offering a reward for their capture, fugitives William C. Davis and Niles Scott were apprehended.

Davis has been evading the FBI by living under his brother's identity for a year since being convicted of molesting three boys and failing to register as a sex offender. Davis was also convicted of child molestation in 1992. Katie Miller, the woman responsible for Davis’ capture, told ABC that he made his first call from jail to berate her.

The second offender, Niles Scott, was captured in Belize after fleeing from capture for two years for the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl. His final charges added up to rape, kidnapping, and unlawful flight.

Both fugitives have been extradited to the states they were convicted in and are awaiting charges.
Oprah has and will pay $100,000 to every one who leads to the capture of these sexual predators. Why do it? Oprah says it's personal: “ The children of this nation are being stolen, raped, tortured and killed by sexual predators who are walking right into your homes. I have had enough. With every breath in my body and you by my side, we are going to move heaven and earth to stop an evil that's been going on for far too long.”

For more information see The Plain Dealer, Mercury News, and Oprah's Website.Oprah Speaks Out

Cyber Safety for Florida and New York

2005-10-13T10:22:00.000-07:00

October 10, 2005
According to a 2001 U.S. Department of Justice study, one in five youths has received a sexual approach or solicitation over the Internet. In response to this alarming fact, Volusia County in Florida is focusing efforts to catch sex offenders using the Internet to lure children. Andy Cotton, sheriff’s investigator, goes undercover posing as a child to trap and incriminate sexual predators on the Internet. In addition, Cotton aids investigators in shutting down web sites containing child pornography. As part of the Internet Crimes Against Children, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement provides equipment and instruction for 37 police departments. More than 130 arrests were made across the state of Florida after the first year of the program.

In New York, Governor Pataki is taking action to educate parents, politicians, police, and children about Internet safety. October 20, 2005 is the date set for New York State’s 1st Annual Cyber Security Awareness Conference entitled “Protecting Our Children On the Internet.” Speakers include William F. Howard, First Deputy Secretary to the Governor; Mr. Howard Schmidt, Former White House Cyber Security Advisor to President Bush; and Ms. Janice Grieshaber, Executive Director of The Jenna Foundation for Non-Violence, Inc., among others.

For more information see Orlando Sentinel and

Sex Offender Ban Debated by Task Force

2005-10-13T10:19:00.000-07:00

October 4, 2005
The state of Washington is debating the need for the law banning offenders of child-related sex crimes from living within 880 feet of schools. The ban is set to end one year from its creation in July of 2005.

Members of the state task force do not feel that the ban stops much crime, but they do see the value in making citizens feel safer. State Rep. Jim Clements, the sponsor of the measure, says that the "protection zones" are set to supplement the public notifications system that is not always sufficient for true awareness.

Opposition to the ban claims that more public education efforts are a better option for increasing public safety. However, Clements, a co-chairman of the state Legislature's Sex Offender Management Joint Task force asserts that substance is what citizens need.

The strongest current opposition comes from the American Civil Liberties Union, which believes that the law is unconstitutional and that it could actually hinder efforts to track sex offenders. Some state task force members also believe that the state should be working on improving the sex offender notification practices rather than enforcing protection zones. Others feel that simply creating "safe zones" is not enough to protect citizens and fear that keeping these laws as the sole means of awareness will lull families into a false sense of security. Such proponents have asked for a county-by-county survey of procedures for making people aware that a sex offender has moved into their area.

For more information see Seattlepi.com

Pataki Keeps Sex Offenders off the Streets Using State Law

2005-10-13T10:16:00.000-07:00

October 4, 2005
Gov. George E. Pataki is now using the involuntary civil commitment law, which allows officials to confine mentally unstable people who pose a threat to society, to protect citizens from predators. Pataki has directed authorities to confine five convicted sex offenders to mental health facilities in the last month. The executive director of the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services, Harvey Rosenthal, argues that sex offenders do not fall under the involuntary civil confinement law, as sex crimes can not be defined as the result of "mental abnormality." He feels that Pataki's actions abuse the mental health system and show disregard for its limited resources.

Kevin Quinn, a spokesperson for the governor, asserts that sex predators are a threat to the public and thus fall under the involuntary civil confinement law. Pataki's desired bill would expand the term "mental abnormality" to include violent sexual predators, which would assist authorities by removing sex offenders off the street in larger numbers. Mr. Quinn stated that there are currently more the 5,000 violent sex offenders in the state prison system. Under Pataki's new policy, only 32 of these offenders have been evaluated, and except for the five sent to the Manhattan Psychiatric Center , the rest were released onto the streets.

For more information see The New York Times

Operation "Trick-nor-Treat" Keeps Sex Offenders Away From Children

2005-10-13T10:13:00.000-07:00

October 4, 2005
Operation Trick-nor Treat" is a program in Virginia initiated to keep convicted sexual predators away from children. It keeps sex offenders away from home on Halloween evening by requiring them to attend a meeting.

The Virginia Department of Corrections also runs "Operation Porch Lights Out," which requires sex offenders to turn off their porch lights to keep children from knocking on their doors. These programs are enforced on a regional basis and are left up to individual probation and parole officers to decide if they will participate or not.