Parent Questions, Reports Sex Offender's Use of Social Media
By: Brittney Johnson, KARK 4 News
Updated: February 26, 2013
As the legislature passes new laws restricting where convicted sex offenders can live and hang out, some concerned parents are asking if that should extend to the internet.
A line on Facebook's homepage states it's "a place to connect and share with friends", but what if a friend has another profile, a page on the Arkansas Crime Information Center web site labeling them a sex offender.
"The concern is child predators are on social media sites and that is a known tool they have used in the past to attract victims,' says Sex Offender Administrator Brad Cazort.
Cazort says he hears plenty of complaints like one a parent sent to KARK asking to remain anonymous. In an email the parent pointed out the active page of a sex offender after she'd reported it to authorities and says Facebook had already shut it down.
Cazort says, contrary to what some assume, "There is no state law that prohibits them from having a social media presence, and really no federal law that prohibits social media presence."
Cazort added that he is also not aware of any bills waiting in the wings that would restrict sex offenders' use of social networking sites.
A line on Facebook's homepage states it's "a place to connect and share with friends", but what if a friend has another profile, a page on the Arkansas Crime Information Center web site labeling them a sex offender.
"The concern is child predators are on social media sites and that is a known tool they have used in the past to attract victims,' says Sex Offender Administrator Brad Cazort.
Cazort says he hears plenty of complaints like one a parent sent to KARK asking to remain anonymous. In an email the parent pointed out the active page of a sex offender after she'd reported it to authorities and says Facebook had already shut it down.
Cazort says, contrary to what some assume, "There is no state law that prohibits them from having a social media presence, and really no federal law that prohibits social media presence."
Cazort added that he is also not aware of any bills waiting in the wings that would restrict sex offenders' use of social networking sites.
