National Sex Offender Site
Reported by Sarah Platt
Wisconsin is making it easier to keep your family safe, by giving you information on sex offenders living in your neighborhood. As we told you last week, the state updated it's website to include addresses of sex offenders. After our story ran, an organization based in Utah contacted Newschannel 8 to make us aware of an even faster way of accessing that same information.
The site is MapSexOffenders.com. With easy to read maps, the site is meant to help put each states information into a more understandable format. The site was started the summer of 2005 by two Utah brothers. They've both helped in search and rescue missions for missing kids. They were inspired to put together a site to help families be more aware of sex offenders living in their neighborhood.
The interactive site takes information from 42 states, allowing residents to literally pinpoint who the registered sex offenders are in their area. "I think that anything that keeps public more safe is a good thing," says Mike Johnson, Sex Offender Registration Specialist for Wisconsin's Department of Corrections. The nationwide site is more user-friendly, you simply put your address in and all of these red tabs indicate what sex offenders live in your neighborhood. "Go to our address, put in your addres, it takes less then 2 minutes. It'll paint a picture of your area, where the registered sex offenders are," says Mark Olsen, co-founder and spokesperson for MapSexOffenders.com
Depending on each state's site, MapSexOffenders.com also has photographs to go along with addresses on the site. Sheriff Mike Weissenberger agrees awareness is always good, but doesn't want information to fall into the wrong hands. "We all know there are people and some groups that take great offense to these people and I don't want to see any vigilante stuff going on," says Weissenberger. One of the concerns for some involved is how to keep sex offender information updated and accurate. "I think you need to realize that information is only as good as what we get from offenders," adds Johnson.
Just like the states sex offender registry websites, MapSexOffenders.com also includes a disclaimer, which says the site is to be used for information only. "It's to be used to keep families stay aware in order to protect their children, the state has provided this information, because they do pose a threat to our families," says Olsen.
Olsen also tells us that his group is committed to making sure that the information on their site matches the state's sites. The site is funded by advertisements on the website, but it's in need of another corporate sponsor to help meet their operating costs. Olsen also adds that they're interested in feedback, whether it's a suggestion or a comment. To find the site, just go to www.MapSexOffenders.com .
Local law enforcement also adds that harassing sex offenders in any way is a crime and will be prosecuted.
Wisconsin is making it easier to keep your family safe, by giving you information on sex offenders living in your neighborhood. As we told you last week, the state updated it's website to include addresses of sex offenders. After our story ran, an organization based in Utah contacted Newschannel 8 to make us aware of an even faster way of accessing that same information.
The site is MapSexOffenders.com. With easy to read maps, the site is meant to help put each states information into a more understandable format. The site was started the summer of 2005 by two Utah brothers. They've both helped in search and rescue missions for missing kids. They were inspired to put together a site to help families be more aware of sex offenders living in their neighborhood.
The interactive site takes information from 42 states, allowing residents to literally pinpoint who the registered sex offenders are in their area. "I think that anything that keeps public more safe is a good thing," says Mike Johnson, Sex Offender Registration Specialist for Wisconsin's Department of Corrections. The nationwide site is more user-friendly, you simply put your address in and all of these red tabs indicate what sex offenders live in your neighborhood. "Go to our address, put in your addres, it takes less then 2 minutes. It'll paint a picture of your area, where the registered sex offenders are," says Mark Olsen, co-founder and spokesperson for MapSexOffenders.com
Depending on each state's site, MapSexOffenders.com also has photographs to go along with addresses on the site. Sheriff Mike Weissenberger agrees awareness is always good, but doesn't want information to fall into the wrong hands. "We all know there are people and some groups that take great offense to these people and I don't want to see any vigilante stuff going on," says Weissenberger. One of the concerns for some involved is how to keep sex offender information updated and accurate. "I think you need to realize that information is only as good as what we get from offenders," adds Johnson.
Just like the states sex offender registry websites, MapSexOffenders.com also includes a disclaimer, which says the site is to be used for information only. "It's to be used to keep families stay aware in order to protect their children, the state has provided this information, because they do pose a threat to our families," says Olsen.
Olsen also tells us that his group is committed to making sure that the information on their site matches the state's sites. The site is funded by advertisements on the website, but it's in need of another corporate sponsor to help meet their operating costs. Olsen also adds that they're interested in feedback, whether it's a suggestion or a comment. To find the site, just go to www.MapSexOffenders.com .
Local law enforcement also adds that harassing sex offenders in any way is a crime and will be prosecuted.
posted by Richy at 12:25 PM
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