Sex Offender Registry and Community Safety: Does it Work?
By: Marci Manley, KARK 4 News
Updated: May 17, 2012
In 2010, KARK took a look at the sex offender registry system and how
well it works. Changes in state law and the way information is reported
had us taking another look to see if the system keeps communities safe.
"I'm a level three, which is called a high risk sex offender," he said across the desk.
Robert Combs is required to check in with Little Rock Police every six months to make sure they know where he lives.
"I think we have to step back from that one-size fits all approach to the way we deal with people on the registry," Combs said.
Combs is a Level III sex offender, but he's also the Executive Director of an advocacy group for sex offenders in the Natural State, called Arkansas Time After Time, pushing for fewer barriers for some offenders.
"It's the knee-jerk reaction to pass further laws like residency restrictions that people think it's going to make communities safer but really it makes communities less safe," he said.
His reasoning? Combs said the restrictions on residency make finding a house, a job, or a normal existence next to impossible, so some offenders will try to skirt the system.
"It's harder for their probation parole officer and their supervising team to watch them," Combs said. "They'll move to the countryside and if they're in the city they will go underground. That actually makes communities less safe."
Paula Stitz, the Arkansas Sex Offender Registry manager, disagrees. She said two major strides in the past year have made the Sex Offender Registry more efficient and more capable of keeping communities informed.
"You can't tell me having the registry does not save people's lives," she said. "I know, I hear stories every day, where it has and continues to keep people safe. Information is power. Sex offenders have relied on our hesitancy to say the word sex or sex offender. It allowed them to stay in the dark. But now, this system is shining a light on them, and they don't care for that. It doesn't really allow them to live the lifestyle they want to live."
The first change is a digital information system, known as CENSOR, that allows law enforcement to electronically register offenders and share information with other agencies instantly.
Little Rock Detective Matt Harrelson manages the 500 plus offenders in his city and the new system has helped his team of one keep an eye on which offenders are following the law.
"Sex offenders derive their power through secrecy. We put the information out in the community. Through the new system, it's all in computer formatting versus all on paper. It's instant, it's immediate, the information we have like photos and updated addresses are immediately updated everywhere," he said.
The numbers seem to show improvements.
In 2010, 351 offenders were address unknown. That means they could be anywhere without law enforcement or community knowledge. As of 2012 that number was reduced by 50 to 301 in Arkansas.
Since 2008, Little Rock Police have arrested 160 offenders who have gone off the map, failed to comply or committed other offenses.
"Our main goal is to make that number as small as possible," Stitz said. "Seeing the numbers and knowing that it is going down, that makes you feel better, seeing the system work and being able to do the jobs we've been tasked with. I think anyone that works in law enforcement would tell you that."
Those compliant with the system regulations and requirements, went up by 700, while delinquent offenders who fail to keep updated information or check in with authorities decreased by 200 offenders.
KARK did a random check of sex offenders in Little Rock neighborhoods , the half dozen on our list we were able to verify were where they should be.
"We know where they live and how to get in touch with them. We can keep tabs on them," Harrelson said. "That way if there are allegations, true or untrue, regarding them we can find them and get to the bottom of it."
The second stride in the system is a loophole closed in state law allowing authorities to notify communities when sex offenders from other states move in reducing the time between relocation and community notification. Prior to last year, offenders from other states had to go through the Arkansas assessment system before communities could be notified they were there. That process could take up to 90 days to complete.
"Now, we are able to notify the community immediately that there is a high risk offender in their area instead of waiting one, two, even three months." Harrelson said.
While law enforcement are responsible for keeping tabs on these offenders, Harrelson wanted to stress the importance of neighbors and community members being willing to notify police when they believe a sex offender has moved into their neighborhood. left their last known address, or is participating in suspicious behavior.
"We rely a lot on the community. We need their help to let us know if they have concerns, if they have questions," Harrelson said. "That's something that's important to us, and it's important in keeping everyone safe."
Harrelson recommends those in Little Rock who have information or questions about sex offenders in their area, the registry, or those with information to contact him directly at 501-918-3544.
"I'm a level three, which is called a high risk sex offender," he said across the desk.
Robert Combs is required to check in with Little Rock Police every six months to make sure they know where he lives.
"I think we have to step back from that one-size fits all approach to the way we deal with people on the registry," Combs said.
Combs is a Level III sex offender, but he's also the Executive Director of an advocacy group for sex offenders in the Natural State, called Arkansas Time After Time, pushing for fewer barriers for some offenders.
"It's the knee-jerk reaction to pass further laws like residency restrictions that people think it's going to make communities safer but really it makes communities less safe," he said.
His reasoning? Combs said the restrictions on residency make finding a house, a job, or a normal existence next to impossible, so some offenders will try to skirt the system.
"It's harder for their probation parole officer and their supervising team to watch them," Combs said. "They'll move to the countryside and if they're in the city they will go underground. That actually makes communities less safe."
Paula Stitz, the Arkansas Sex Offender Registry manager, disagrees. She said two major strides in the past year have made the Sex Offender Registry more efficient and more capable of keeping communities informed.
"You can't tell me having the registry does not save people's lives," she said. "I know, I hear stories every day, where it has and continues to keep people safe. Information is power. Sex offenders have relied on our hesitancy to say the word sex or sex offender. It allowed them to stay in the dark. But now, this system is shining a light on them, and they don't care for that. It doesn't really allow them to live the lifestyle they want to live."
The first change is a digital information system, known as CENSOR, that allows law enforcement to electronically register offenders and share information with other agencies instantly.
Little Rock Detective Matt Harrelson manages the 500 plus offenders in his city and the new system has helped his team of one keep an eye on which offenders are following the law.
"Sex offenders derive their power through secrecy. We put the information out in the community. Through the new system, it's all in computer formatting versus all on paper. It's instant, it's immediate, the information we have like photos and updated addresses are immediately updated everywhere," he said.
The numbers seem to show improvements.
In 2010, 351 offenders were address unknown. That means they could be anywhere without law enforcement or community knowledge. As of 2012 that number was reduced by 50 to 301 in Arkansas.
Since 2008, Little Rock Police have arrested 160 offenders who have gone off the map, failed to comply or committed other offenses.
"Our main goal is to make that number as small as possible," Stitz said. "Seeing the numbers and knowing that it is going down, that makes you feel better, seeing the system work and being able to do the jobs we've been tasked with. I think anyone that works in law enforcement would tell you that."
Those compliant with the system regulations and requirements, went up by 700, while delinquent offenders who fail to keep updated information or check in with authorities decreased by 200 offenders.
KARK did a random check of sex offenders in Little Rock neighborhoods , the half dozen on our list we were able to verify were where they should be.
"We know where they live and how to get in touch with them. We can keep tabs on them," Harrelson said. "That way if there are allegations, true or untrue, regarding them we can find them and get to the bottom of it."
The second stride in the system is a loophole closed in state law allowing authorities to notify communities when sex offenders from other states move in reducing the time between relocation and community notification. Prior to last year, offenders from other states had to go through the Arkansas assessment system before communities could be notified they were there. That process could take up to 90 days to complete.
"Now, we are able to notify the community immediately that there is a high risk offender in their area instead of waiting one, two, even three months." Harrelson said.
While law enforcement are responsible for keeping tabs on these offenders, Harrelson wanted to stress the importance of neighbors and community members being willing to notify police when they believe a sex offender has moved into their neighborhood. left their last known address, or is participating in suspicious behavior.
"We rely a lot on the community. We need their help to let us know if they have concerns, if they have questions," Harrelson said. "That's something that's important to us, and it's important in keeping everyone safe."
Harrelson recommends those in Little Rock who have information or questions about sex offenders in their area, the registry, or those with information to contact him directly at 501-918-3544.
Comments
Ms. Stitz, I know a great many registrants, and I can tell you several things about "...the lifestyle they want to live." They want to be able to rent a house fit to move their wives and children into, hopefully one that, even though it satisfies the residency restrictions, they won't be kicked out of as soon as neighbors see their pictures online and complains to the landlords. They want to get and keep jobs so that they can feed and clothe those children. They want those children to go a full week without coming home in tears because some other kid called them names at school. They want to take their children to the libraries and help them with their school projects. These are the lifestyles that all of the registrants that I know want, and I cannot for the life of me understand why you want to prevent their attaining them.
Shelly S.
May 18, 2012 at 1:07 pm
"You can't tell me having the registry does not save people's lives," she said. "I know, I hear stories every day, where it has and continues to keep people safe. Information is power. "
Anecdotal evidence is not evidence of efficacy.
Information is power to do what? Isolate? harass? threaten? banish?
Those are the outcomes, and those outcomes are proven.
In short, the registry strips a person of safety and/or security. It is axiomatic that NOBODY has to follow any laws that strips a person of safety and/or security.
Rudy R.
May 18, 2012 at 7:39 am
I think the public needs to be educated about the [censored] offender who has not been caught yet, say someone like Jerry Sandusky and the likelihood that [censored] offenses are more likely to come from someone in your family album. Educating the parents, teens and children about ways to stay safe are critical. Also, behaviors directed toward them as well as from them. Law enforcement and the media needs to be held responsible for creating a false sense of security in their county or state.
Vicki Henry
Women Against Registry
Vicki H.
May 17, 2012 at 11:12 pm
Yawn. Why interview Paula Stitz, a woman who lost one job as police chief due to corruption.
Something you failed to mention, most on the registry do not re-offend, and most arrests for crimes like this are of first-time offenders.
oncefallendotcom o.
May 17, 2012 at 10:00 pm
The register does not work, so why keep telling parents that it does. 95% of all [censored] crimes are comments by people who are not on the list. [censored] offender has one of the lowest reoffended rates of 5%. As a parent, you need to educate your child. Tell them if someone was to touch them tell to tell you. Parents don%u2019t trust the law to keep your kids safe. The register is over-crowed with no violence No touch [censored] offender. As a parent, you only need to know who the ones that would re-offend. Most crime is comment by someone the child knows not a stranger. You don%u2019t need to know about the 17 year old who had [censored] with his 16 year old girlfriend or the young man who went streaking on campus.
1 out of 8 [censored] offenders are under the age of 12. Are these KIDS a
Lora M.
May 17, 2012 at 7:27 pm
