Tracking Sex Offenders Near Your Home

POSTED: 5:36 pm EDT May 3, 2006

There’s increased public awareness that convicted sex offenders are living in all kinds of communities.
So, is there one on your street or living or working within feet of your child's school? Chances are, the answer is yes.
NBC 30 found out how you can help prevent your child from becoming part of another tragic statistic.
Steve Roddel, the creator of familywatchdog.us, said when it comes to protecting kids from sex offenders the answer is simple.
"Awareness is your best defense," he said.

Roddel, a father of three kids, started the site about a year ago after he learned a convicted rapist lived 600 feet from his home. The offender wasn't listed on the state sex offender registry. Roddel decided parents needed a better resource.

His site is updated every day, is free and simple to use.

Within minutes, NBC 30 discovered that there are 59 convicted sex offenders within a half a mile of Vincent E. Mauro Elementary School in New Haven.

And the schools are not required to notify parents when a sex offender moves in.

The only way to find out is to check the sites yourself. Police say every parent should do their research.

Not all convicted sex offenders are listed, so the risk out there is even greater than the numbers suggest.

In Connecticut, offenders who have committed sexually violent crimes or committed non-violent crimes against children are only listed on the registry if they were released from prison after October 1988.

Additional Resources:
FamilyWatchdog


For the latest news, stay tuned to NBC 30 Connecticut News and NBC30.com