Familywatchdog site tracks sex offenders

Kanupriya Vashisht
Special for The Republic
Jan. 18, 2006 12:00 AM

Chandler resident Ruvi Wijesuriya and his 3-year-old daughter, Rekha, would sometimes stand and chat with their neighbor while the man's two Weimaraners socialized with their greyhound. Then Wijesuriya discovered his neighbor was a registered sex offender. The information came from http://www.familywatchdog.us,/ a Web site that allows anyone to identify registered sex offenders that live, work or attend school within a 5-mile radius of any address. The free site offers information on 38 states, including Arizona, and includes street maps and aerial photographs. Square icons identify homes or workplaces of sex offenders, and clicking on them reveals the offender's picture, name, address, employer and convictions.
Wijesuriya says the service is useful."The safety of our kids supersedes their (sex offenders) right to privacy, especially since repeat rates are so high," he said. Familywatchdog founder Steve Roddel and his business partner, Ted Crawford, became concerned with online sex offender registries after a rash of high-profile cases last spring when children were slain by registered sex offenders. The idea took shape after Roddel, a father of three, learned that two sex offenders lived near his home, and he could not find information on the Indiana Sex and Violent Offender registry because a street name was misspelled in the directory.State and national registries proved to be dated and tedious to use, Crawford said."We wondered what we could do to make this information more easily available for moms and dads?" They finally decided to build something that was easier to use and would put information in terms people could understand.A prototype of the Web site was launched last summer. After mentions on national TV by Oprah Winfrey, John Walsh, 20-20 and NBC Nightly News, the daily hits have now touched 1 million. "I don't have any problem with Web sites like these that try to share information about sex offenders. As long as they are educational and pro-active, I think it is a good thing," said Val Biebrich, supervisor of the sex-offender compliance team at the Arizona Department of Public Safety.Although Biebrich agrees that offenders must be treated cautiously, he said they must not be harassed because they have served their terms and are currently not wanted by police. Arizona has about 11,000 registered sex offenders. The Arizona Department of Public Safety has its own Web site - az.gov/webapp/offender - that lists registered sex offenders, but only levels 2 and 3. "My very brief overview of the site is that, while possibly generating unnecessary fear, it is absolutely the Web site creators' right to make this public information available," said Dawn Wyland, interim director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Arizona."No legislator will take on the issue out of fear that the media . . . will label him or her as pro-offender," Wyland said.Juan Rosales recently received notification from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office about an offender who moved into his Tempe neighborhood. He said he found the Web site aggressively worded."It might make some offenders hostile," Rosales said.Crawford said the site has had negative and positive response from sex offenders."Some actually thanked us because it shines a light on them and forces them to live up to a standard," Crawford said. Another similar tracking site is mapsexoffenders.com. "The important thing is to get information about the neighborhood. If you are walking your kid to the front door of a sex offender it's like an advertisement - here's my kid," said Mark Olsen, founder of mapsexoffenders.com.

State first to e-mail alerts about sex offenders

Posted on Tue, Dec. 27, 2005

When they move, neighbors can be warned via the Internet
LISA NEFF
The Herald
TALLAHASSEE - Florida has become the first state to partner with a Family Watchdog network to provide e-mail alerts when a registered sex offender settles in next door, in the neighborhood - or even within a one-mile radius.
Floridians can either go to myFloridaLegal.com or FamilyWatchdog.us to subscribe to the e-mail alerts. The Web sites also provide cybersurfers with neighborhood maps containing color-coded details about where registered sex offenders live and the types of crimes they committed, as well as tips on keeping children safe and general information on the issue.
"Nothing is more important than the protection of our children," Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist said in a statement announcing the partnership. "We are pleased to alert our citizens to this new tool that can help parents keep track of those who are prone to destroy lives. Sexual predators are likely to commit similar crimes again, so parents need to know when these individuals move into the neighborhood."
The state's partnership with Family Watchdog, part of the Amber Alert network, earned praise from national child safety advocates Julie Clark and John Walsh, of "America's Most Wanted" fame.
"I applaud Gov. Bush and Attorney General Crist for taking this proactive initiative to keep Florida the number one state in protecting Florida's most valuable resource - its children," Walsh stated. "I'm very honored that my home state is the first state in our nation to team up with Family Watchdog."
The effort also was well-received by local law enforcement.
"This is another way to keep residents informed," said Dave Bristow, spokesman for the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.
The sheriff's office has a procedure for informing residents within a one-block radius when a convicted sex offender moves into a neighborhood. Bristow said fliers are distributed within two days after a convicted sex offender registers a new address. Such registration with local law enforcement is required by law.
Bristow added that the e-mail alert system may reach additional people and it may reach them sooner. "You know, can you do too much?" he asked.
In testimony earlier this year before a Florida House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, Crist said the sexual exploitation of children in the state is "as horrific as it is pervasive."
"The odds are that in every neighborhood, in every city, there is a sex offender living down the street," he told the committee in June. "It is highly likely that every Floridian - and probably every American - drives past the home of a sex offender on a regular basis without even knowing it."
Florida, the attorney general said, is home to some 34,000 registered sex offenders, about 5,000 of whom are classified as sexual predators.
The state's database, maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, is one of the largest of its kind in the nation. For the past 10 years, Floridians could search by ZIP code or city for sex offenders and predators in the database on a Web site.
In May, the Web site's capabilities were enhanced to allow people to search for sex offenders within five miles of their homes.
And now people can also register to receive e-mail notifications when a convicted sex offender settles nearby.
The Family Watchdog Web site debuted about six months ago, a project of Steve Roddel in Westfield, Ind. Roddel started the site after struggling to learn about a known sex offender moving into his hometown.
"We believe strongly that the best way to combat sexual assault is through personal awareness," he said. "Identifying known perpetrators of these crimes within the community is an important first step in protecting those most at risk."
On the Net myFloridaLegal.com
FamilyWatchdog.us

John Walsh Applauds State of Florida and Family Watchdog Partnership

Florida becomes first State to team with Family Watchdog. The Nations number one Sex Offender Tracking Website.
Indianapolis; December 26, 2005 John Walsh, host of America’s Most Wanted, and a supporter of Family Watchdog issued a statement last week when he learned of the countries first partnership between the sex offender tracking and mapping website and the state of Florida. “I applaud Governor Bush and Attorney General Crist for taking this pro-active initiative to keep Florida the number one state in protecting Florida’s most valuable resource; its children. Family Watchdog will give all Floridians the ability to keep their communities safer. Everyone should have the right to know if a convicted sex offender is living in their neighborhood. I’m very honored that my home state is the first state in our nation to team up with Family Watchdog”.Attorney General Charlie Crist announced that Floridians can now utilize a new tool to help ensure the safety of their children and neighborhoods. Beginning today, (December 20, 2005) Floridians and citizens across America can link to the Family Watchdog website through the Attorney General’s site at http://MyFloridaLegal.com. Family Watchdog features a unique service that provides email notification when registered sexual predators move into a neighborhood. Florida becomes the first state to join forces with this child safety operation.The new site is part of the Amber Alert network and can be accessed directly at Familywatchdog.us. It provides free general information, detailed maps of neighborhoods, tips on keeping children safe, and an email notification when a registered sex offender moves into a particular neighborhood. Additional addresses can be added to the notification system for a small fee. Family Watchdog is supported by America’s Most Wanted host John Walsh and child safety advocate Julie Clark, who together formed The Safe Side, a group designed to further child protection efforts. “Nothing is more important than the protection of our children,” said Crist. “We are pleased to alert our citizens to this new tool that can help parents keep track of those who are prone to destroy lives. Sexual predators are likely to commit similar crimes again, so parents need to know when these individuals move into the neighborhood.”Family Watchdog can also serve as a bridge between the states in helping citizens know the locations of these offenders. While states such as Florida have a database of registered sexual predators, it is difficult to know when they move to another state. Predators can be tracked by name, no matter the state in which they are registered, and the Family Watchdog site enables parents to draw maps of registered addresses for sexual offenders and predators. “Family Watchdog is honored to provide our Internet-based sex offender mapping service to the State of Florida, and we welcome the opportunity to partner with Attorney General Crist and his staff to reduce the number of sexual assaults committed on Floridians. We believe strongly that the best way to combat sexual assault is through personal awareness. Identifying known perpetrators of these crimes within the community is an important first step in protecting those most at risk of sexual assault,“ said Steve Roddel of Family WatchdogAbout Family WatchdogFamily Watchdog was founded by Steve Roddel of Westfield, Indiana. In the six months since its launch, the website has grown into America’s number one site for the identification and mapping of convicted sexual offenders. The website; www.familywatchdog.us, consistently has more users than the next three sites combined. Over the last several weeks the website has undergone major changes to make it easier to navigate and offer the user more information, including a national ‘Amber Alert ‘ System, child safety tips, and holiday shopping safety. Family Watchdog, LLC donates the first 10% of all gross proceeds to the Sex Offender Reporting and Tracking Institute, S.O.R.T.I. a non-profit, tax exempt, 501c3 foundation.This partnership is another component of the Attorney General’s commitment to enhancing child safety. During 2005, several initiatives have been launched including a partnership with NetSmartz, an interactive resource for children and parents. Other initiatives include:In May, Crist and Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Guy Tunnell, in conjunction with Pitney-Bowes, announced an enhanced state website that makes it easier to keep track of sexual offenders and predators in Florida.The establishment of the Attorney General’s CyberCrime Unit in 2005. This unit targets child pornography, child predators and internet-based sexual exploitation of children, and produced the arrest of an accused child pornographer soon after it was established. A new publication titled “Safe Steps” was produced for the purpose of educating parents on ways to protect their young children and alert them to issues involving teenagers. The publication was produced in conjunction with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. A series of 25 one-hour courses called “Escape School,” covering child safety for both children and parents, was presented around the state.”Links to these child safety initiatives can be found on the Attorney General’s homepage at http://MyFloridaLegal.com and by clicking on “Child Safety.”The Attorney General also successfully fought for the constitutionality of the Florida Sexual Predators Act – Florida’s version of “Megan’s Law” – which is the act that requires sexual predators to register once they are released from prison. The Florida Supreme Court agreed with the arguments put forth by the Attorney General’s Office of the Solicitor General. The Supreme Court also agreed with the Attorney General’s argument that automatically placing a convicted offender’s name on a list of offenders is not unconstitutional.

Crist Announces New Partnership For Child Safety

December 20, 2005

- New System Provides Email Notification When Predator Moves Into Area -TALLAHASSEE– Attorney General Charlie Crist today announced that Floridians can now utilize a new tool to help ensure the safety of their children and neighborhoods. Beginning today, Floridians and citizens across America can link to the Family Watchdog website through the Attorney General's site at http://myfloridalegal.com/. Family Watchdog features a unique service that provides email notification when registered sexual predators move into a neighborhood. Florida becomes the first state to join forces with this child safety operation.The new site is part of the Amber Alert network and can be accessed directly at http://familywatchdog.us/. It provides free general information, detailed maps of neighborhoods, tips on keeping children safe, and an email notification when a registered sex offender moves into a particular neighborhood. Additional addresses can be added to the notification system for a small fee. Family Watchdog is endorsed by America's Most Wanted host John Walsh and child safety advocate Julie Clark, who together formed The Safe Side, a group designed to further child protection efforts. "Nothing is more important than the protection of our children," said Crist. "We are pleased to alert our citizens to this new tool that can help parents keep track of those who are prone to destroy lives. Sexual predators are likely to commit similar crimes again, so parents need to know when these individuals move into the neighborhood."Family Watchdog can also serve as a bridge among the states in helping citizens know the locations of these offenders. While states such as Florida have a database of registered sexual predators and offenders, it is difficult to know when they move to another state. Sexual offenders and predators can be tracked by name, no matter the state in which they are registered, and the Family Watchdog site enables parents to draw maps of their registered addresses."I applaud Governor Bush and Attorney General Crist for taking this proactive initiative to keep Florida the number one state in protecting Florida's most valuable resource: its children," said Walsh. "Family Watchdog will give all Floridians the ability to keep their communities safer. Everyone should have the right to know if a convicted sex offender is living in their neighborhood. I'm very honored that my home state is the first state in our nation to team up with Family Watchdog." "Family Watchdog is honored to provide our Internet-based sex offender mapping service to the State of Florida, and we welcome the opportunity to partner with Attorney General Crist and his staff to reduce the number of sexual assaults committed on Floridians," added Steve Roddel, founder of Family Watchdog. "We believe strongly that the best way to combat sexual assault is through personal awareness. Identifying known perpetrators of these crimes within the community is an important first step in protecting those most at risk of sexual assault."In the six months since Roddel launched Family Watchdog in Westfield, Indiana, the website has grown into America's number one site for the identification and mapping of convicted sexual offenders. The website consistently has more users than the next three sites combined. Over the last several weeks the website has undergone major changes to make it easier to navigate and offer the user more information, including a national 'Amber Alert ' System, child safety tips, and holiday shopping safety.This partnership is another component of the Attorney General's commitment to enhancing child safety. During 2005 several initiatives have been launched, including a partnership with NetSmartz, an interactive resource for children and parents. Other initiatives include:• In May, Crist and Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Guy Tunnell, in conjunction with Pitney-Bowes, announced an enhanced state website that makes it easier to keep track of sexual offenders and predators in Florida.• The establishment of the Attorney General's CyberCrime Unit in 2005. This unit targets child pornography, child predators and internet-based sexual exploitation of children, and produced the arrest of an accused child pornographer soon after it was established. • A new publication titled "Safe Steps" was produced for the purpose of educating parents on ways to protect their young children and alert them to issues involving teenagers. The publication was produced in conjunction with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.• A series of one-hour courses called "Escape School," covering child safety for both children and parents, was presented at 25 locations around the state.Links to these child safety initiatives can be found on the Attorney General's homepage at http://myfloridalegal.com/ and by clicking on "Child Safety."The Attorney General also successfully fought for the constitutionality of the Florida Sexual Predators Act – Florida's version of "Megan's Law" – which is the act that requires sexual predators to register once they are released from prison. The Florida Supreme Court agreed with the arguments put forth by the Attorney General's Office of the Solicitor General. The Supreme Court also agreed with the Attorney General's argument that automatically placing a convicted offender's name on a list of offenders is not unconstitutional. In addition, the U.S. Supreme Court last month refused to consider a legal challenge to the Florida law requiring sex offenders to register with the state so their pictures and other identifying information can be posted on the internet.

Family Watchdog Starts Foundation to Fight Sexual Predators
Group takes a proactive approach to protect families

(12/3/2005)

Indianapolis, Indiana USA (PRWEB) December 1, 2005 -- The Indianapolis based Family Watchdog, LLC a company that provides information on convicted sexual offenders has created a foundation that will, in part educate and fund efforts in support of ‘Jessica’s Law’. The law was named after Jessica Lunsford, a 9 year old who was kidnapped from her Florida home, raped and murdered by a convicted sex offender, who, police have said, confessed to the crime.
Sex Offender Reporting & Tracking Institute is administered by, and is part of The National Heritage Foundation a 501c3 which makes it a non-profit organization. Financial support for S.O.R.T.I. will come from the revenue of www.Familywatchdog.us the nation’s number one registered sexual offender website. Steve Roddel, founder of Family Watchdog, believes this effort to curb sexual crimes must be made.
Roddel says, “We must do more, we must do everything humanly possible to stop sexual predators before they commit crimes. I pray the day will come when organizations like Family Watchdog and S.O.R.T.I. are no longer necessary but, until then, a maximum effort must be made to identify and track those convicted of sex crimes. Jessica’s Law if enacted in every state will be of great benefit to every citizen, no matter the age or gender.”
Family Watchdog, LLC which operates www.familywatchdog.us is donating ten-percent of its gross revenue to S.O.R.T.I. “We wanted a foundation with minimum administrative costs and was run by professionals’ said Roddel, “and The National Heritage Foundation does it better than anyone else. Over 90% of all donations will go directly to the causes we are supporting. That’s a net figure, after all associated expenses and we hope to increase that margin over time.”
S.O.R.T.I. has an aggressive mission and one that Roddel believes will matter. “We have three primary areas of focus. To educate the public on the seriousness of the problem concerning sexual predators and how ineffective the laws are in many states. Next to promote and fund within the boundaries of a non-profit, the national effort to make Jessica’s Law, the law in all 50 states. There are several good organizations and nationally recognized individuals doing the work, we do not want to reinvent the wheel, but whatever we can do to help, including a financial commitment, we will do it. Our final goal is to reserve a portion of our funding to help groups that offer rewards for the capture of the sexual predators that continue to plague our society. The numbers are staggering; tens of thousands of these convicted predators are not where they should be. They have gone missing and who knows what they will do next. Reward money can be a motivator; we will do what we can.”
FamilyWatchdog.us, is talking with several companies about sponsorships and hopes that more companies will take on sponsorship roles, which in turn will generate revenue for S.O.R.T.I. “Most of our contacts have been with companies that value community and are deeply involved in supporting community efforts. Family Watchdog, offers a vehicle for these companies to do more than just advertise. Every dollar they invest with us can have a direct and positive effect on the lives of their customers”, said Roddel. “What could possibly be a better message to send to your customers and employee’s than we care about you and your family”?
Family Watchdog was founded by Steve Roddel of Westfield, Indiana. In the four months since its launch, the website has grown into America’s number one site for the identification and mapping of convicted sexual offenders. The website; www.familywatchdog.us, consistently has more users than the next three sites combined. Over the last several weeks the website has undergone major changes to make it easier to navigate and offer the user more information, including a national ‘Amber Alert ‘ System, child safety tips, and holiday shopping safety. Family Watchdog, LLC donates the first 10% of all gross proceeds to the Sex Offender Reporting and Tracking Institute, S.O.R.T.I. a non-profit, tax exempt, 501c3 foundation.

Family Watchdog, LLC takes Proactive Approach in the Fight against Sexual Predators Founding The "Sex Offender Reporting & Tracking Institute" S.O.R.T.I.

Thursday, 01 December 2005

INDIANAPOLIS, IN, (NAMC) - The Indianapolis based Family Watchdog, LLC a company that provides information on convicted sexual offenders has created a foundation that will, in part educate and fund efforts in support of ‘Jessica’s Law’. The law was named after Jessica Lunsford, a 9 year old who was kidnapped from her Florida home, raped and murdered by a convicted sex offender, who, police have said, confessed to the crime.Sex Offender Reporting & Tracking Institute is administered by, and is part of The National Heritage Foundation a 501c3 which makes it a non-profit organization. Financial support for S.O.R.T.I. will come from the revenue of www.Familywatchdog.us the nation’s number one registered sexual offender website. Steve Roddel, founder of Family Watchdog, believes this effort to curb sexual crimes must be made. Roddel says, “We must do more, we must do everything humanly possible to stop sexual predators before they commit crimes. I pray the day will come when organizations like Family Watchdog and S.O.R.T.I. are no longer necessary but, until then, a maximum effort must be made to identify and track those convicted of sex crimes. Jessica’s Law if enacted in every state will be of great benefit to every citizen, no matter the age or gender.” Family Watchdog, LLC which operates www.familywatchdog.us is donating ten-percent of its gross revenue to S.O.R.T.I. “We wanted a foundation with minimum administrative costs and was run by professionals’ said Roddel, “and The National Heritage Foundation does it better than anyone else. Over 90% of all donations will go directly to the causes we are supporting. That’s a net figure, after all associated expenses and we hope to increase that margin over time.”S.O.R.T.I. has an aggressive mission and one that Roddel believes will matter. “We have three primary areas of focus. To educate the public on the seriousness of the problem concerning sexual predators and how ineffective the laws are in many states. Next to promote and fund within the boundaries of a non-profit, the national effort to make Jessica’s Law, the law in all 50 states. There are several good organizations and nationally recognized individuals doing the work, we do not want to reinvent the wheel, but whatever we can do to help, including a financial commitment, we will do it. Our final goal is to reserve a portion of our funding to help groups that offer rewards for the capture of the sexual predators that continue to plague our society. The numbers are staggering; tens of thousands of these convicted predators are not where they should be. They have gone missing and who knows what they will do next. Reward money can be a motivator; we will do what we can.”FamilyWatchdog.us, is talking with several companies about sponsorships and hopes that more companies will take on sponsorship roles, which in turn will generate revenue for S.O.R.T.I. “Most of our contacts have been with companies that value community and are deeply involved in supporting community efforts. Family Watchdog, offers a vehicle for these companies to do more than just advertise. Every dollar they invest with us can have a direct and positive effect on the lives of their customers”, said Roddel. “What could possibly be a better message to send to your customers and employee’s than we care about you and your family”?www.familywatchdog.usAbout Family WatchdogFamily Watchdog was founded by Steve Roddel of Westfield, Indiana. In the four months since its launch, the website has grown into America’s number one site for the identification and mapping of convicted sexual offenders. The website; www.familywatchdog.us, consistently has more users than the next three sites combined. Over the last several weeks the website has undergone major changes to make it easier to navigate and offer the user more information, including a national ‘Amber Alert ‘ System, child safety tips, and holiday shopping safety. Family Watchdog, LLC donates the first 10% of all gross proceeds to the Sex Offender Reporting and Tracking Institute, S.O.R.T.I. a non-profit, tax exempt, 501c3 foundation.

Indecent Exposer

Indecent Exposer (Nov. 22nd)

Updated: 10:49 PM Nov 22, 2005
Addie Knowlton

It was around eleven in the morning on September 7th, when a woman on her lunch break from work drove to Mahoney Park to take a walk.She asked us to protect her identity for her own safety.
"I was driving through the park, there was a guy who looked fully dressed, but he reached up to scratch his stomach and there everything was."
After the man alledgedly exposed himself, the woman says she immediately called 9-1-1.
"They told me that they had three officers out looking for him, they gave me a case number and that was that."
But the woman says after about a month, the incident was still bothering her, so she took the law into her own hands so to speak, by logging onto www.familywatchdog.us, a website where she could search the area around Mahoney park for registered sex offenders.
"I clicked on the picture and my heart dropped, I knew it was him."
The woman took the man's information to the police, where through a line-up and a search warrant, 55- year-old Alvie Carlson, a level-three registered sex offender living in Lincoln was arrested for public indecency.
The woman says she has a bit of advice for others who might find themselves in the same situation.
"I would say use the Internet and know your surroundings, be cautious when you go out by yourself."

Sex offenders in town registered on site

Jackie Oribello
Issue date: 11/6/05 Section: News

Some students may be unaware that registered sex offenders must notify the town they reside in, and that this information is made readily available on various Web sites.Certain sites such as familywatchdog.us offer residents the opportunity to type in their address and view how many sex offenders live nearby. The Web site goes into detail on what type of crime the sex offender committed, such as rape, battery, child-related offenses and other sexual crimes."The public has a right to know," Normal Police Lt. Mark Kotte said. "It's a safety issue."According to Kotte, some may not agree with making these Web sites available for the public, but they are there specifically for public use."I think once you're a registered sex offender, it gives up your right to privacy," Patrol Operations Lt. for the McLean County Sheriff's Office Mike Essig said.People who have committed a sexual crime are required to register in the town they live in or move to. The sex offenders must re-register every year, regardless of whether they move or stay in the same town, Kotte said.While the Web sites are gaining popularity, Normal and McLean County police have other ways of keeping track of registered sex offenders."We don't check the Web sites, we routinely check their homes," Essig said.The NPD keeps a book of all sex offenders registered in the town, Kotte said.Some students are surprised to find out that sex offenders actually live in their neighborhood and may wonder why they were never notified."We don't send out notices to neighborhoods," Kotte said. "They have to look them up themselves. This process [of notification] would be very time consuming.""If somebody has questions, we refer them to the isp.state.il.us Web site," Essig said.This is McLean County's own Web site that lists detailed information about registered sex offenders in the area."The Town of Normal is exceptionally safe, but students should do what mom and dad told them when they first went away to college: 'Don't leave anyone behind and stay in a group,'" Kotte said. Essig agreed.The No. 1 overall safety issue is for students to know their surroundings when they go out, especially the people they are with, he said."Make sure someone knows when you are leaving and who you're leaving with," Essig said.

Choose treats

October 28, 2005 on 2:10 pm
Posted by: Rochelle Stewart

Ghouls, ghosts and goblins will be walking the streets this weekend, knocking on doors and requesting tricks or treats. Will your son or daughter be one of them?
If so, you’re going to want to make sure they are protected.
Here’s a Web site that will help your son or daughter avoid encountering a sex offender’s home.
FamilyWatchDog.us’s free service allows you to search for registered sex offenders living in your town. You just enter an address and the site shows you a map. Squares represent the home or workplace of the registered sex offender. Click on the square and a photograph, name and address of the registered offender appears. The site also lists the sex offender’s previous convictions.
The squares are colored coded to represent the offense. A red square represents an offense against a child, a yellow square represents a rape, a blue square represents sexual battery and a green square represents other offenses.
For a fee, you can register for the site and receive an automatic notification when an offender moves within five miles of the three addresses you provide. Subscribers also receive sex crime alerts, an e-mail notification when a sex crime has been committed.
The site is updated daily using data from multiple public data sources. So stay safe, have fun and save some candy for me!
E-mail: Rochelle Stewart.

Speak out in favor of keeping predators in prison

Luanne JurczakHighland
This story ran on nwitimes.com on Wednesday, October 26, 2005 12:40 AM CDT

There is an epidemic of child abuse, sexual child abuse, and the citizens are apathetic to this horrifying problem.Laws nationwide are weak against such predators because the citizens are not outraged enough to act. We must write or e-mail the White House, our state and legislators. We must insist that once a person is convicted of an offense against a child, that person will never get out of prison again. History proves that once they are released, they are likely to strike again!
Every parent and grandparent should act. Take a few minutes to write a letter or make a phone call and express your outrage at the weakness of our laws and insist on a change. If it affects one child, it affects us all.Do you think your children are not at risk? I suggest that you go to familywatchdog.us, type in your address and see who lives around you.Take a look at Briar Ridge, Griffith, Dyer, Highland, Munster, Lansing. Wherever you live, take a look and be aware of who is living or working in your neighborhood. If you love your kids, you will check this out and write your congressmen and President Bush.Make your voice heard in the name of your children and the names of each child lost each year because repeat offenders keep getting back onto our streets to strike again.Luanne Jurczak, Highland

Proposed legislation, new Web site aimed at sex offenders

By Mike Smith Associated Press Friday, August 26, 2005

INDIANAPOLIS -- More convicted sex offenders would be prohibited from living within 1,000 feet of schools or day cares under legislation a state senator plans to introduce next session.Republican state Sen. Jeff Drozda of Westfield and police also announced support Thursday for a new Web site they say is easier to navigate and will allow people to be notified if a sex offender moves within five miles of an address. It includes detailed maps of where sex offenders live, aerial photographs of areas and schools locations.Hamilton County resident Steve Roddel developed the Web site through a Westfield-based organization called Family Watchdog. A link to it could be included on a state sex offender registry run by the Indiana Sheriffs Association, said Marion County Sheriff Frank Anderson.Anderson said the proposed legislation and Web site would help the public and police better track convicted sex offenders and protect children from predators."These children are flowers, and there's a lot of weeds out there trying to snuff them out," he said.Under current law, convicted sex offenders on parole or probation are prohibited from living within a mile of their victim and within 1,000 feet of schools or day cares. Drozda's bill would prohibit that regardless of probation or parole status."In talking with a lot of these people on the front lines, it makes no sense whether you are on probation or on parole, the bottom line is you committed a heinous crime," Drozda said.Officials said of 8,000 registered sex offenders in Indiana, 1,200 live close to schools or day cares. Drozda said it was unlikely his legislation would force those people to move.The bill also will require state agencies such as the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, the Family and Social Services Administration, Department of Correction and Department of Revenue to work more closely with the Indiana Sheriffs Association in updating the state's registry.Family Watchdog has created a Web site --http://www.familywatchdog.us -- that police and child advocates at Thursday's news conference said was more useful and easier to navigate.The Sheriffs Association registry Web site allows people to type in the name of counties, cities and streets, but then it simply provides a list of names of people registered in those areas. It sometimes includes numerous names, and to find out their address and other information, one must click on each name.The new Web site allows someone to type in a city and street address and view a map that pinpoints the location of all registered offenders within a five-mile radius. By clicking a blip indicating sex offenders, it can provide their photos, addresses and the nature of their offense.It also can provide aerial photographs of the area so the public and police can easily identify where parks, wooded areas and lakes are located. Viewing the information is free.A person will be able to pay an annual fee of $18, choose three addresses, and the service will notify that person by e-mail if a registered offender moves into or out of a five-mile radius. The organization is working on a phone notification system for those who do not have e-mail.Roddel said the Web site is in 11 states, and the goal is to have it operating in 42 by October. It relies on public agencies and other means for information and hopes to partner with and receive funding from several sources, including nonprofit groups and state and federal agencies.