Site helps people track sex offenders

By Jen SchererDaily News staff writerA Web site using state sex offender information, has made it even easier to track dangerous predators in the neighborhood.Now that sex offender addresses are listed on the state Department of Correction sex offender registry, a national Web site has made that information available in its mapping program.On the state's Web site, people can search sex offenders by name or by zip code. Beloit's zip code will turn up 96 registrants, but people must select a name to see where that person lives.
Orbizon Inc., a privately owned Web development and technology company based in Utah, organizes the information in a user-friendly way at www.MapSexOffenders.com. MapSexOffenders.com has the same data as the state Web site, but with MapSexOffenders.com, people can plug in their own address and a map is generated with red markers showing where sex offenders in their proximity are located. The Web site allows people to zoom in and out to get a better idea of the locations of these offenders.The person can merely click on the red markers to obtain more information about the offender, including the nature and severity of the offender's crimes, and if the offender is compliant.The Web site also provides the option of receiving e-mail notification whenever a sex offender moves into a specific neighborhood. Currently, only certain serious offenders in Wisconsin warrant direct notification of neighbors when they move into a neighborhood.Mark Olsen, co-founder of MapSexOffenders.com, wrote in a release that, in addition to the information on sex offenders, the site also provides helpful safety tips and advice for parents.“By making this information straightforward and available to the general public, we hope to help prevent future abuse by convicted offenders,” Olsen in the release. “We do caution parents that awareness is just the first step, and that they should also talk with their children and take the time to educate them about inappropriate touching and attention from strangers.”MapSexOffenders.com provides free information for 42 states, with plans to provide the information for all 50 states by July, according to a press release. In addition to Wisconsin, Orbizon recently added data for Iowa, Alaska and Michigan to the Web site.