Editorial

Offender photos

For several years, convicted sexual offenders in Missouri have been required to register with the sheriff's department in the county where they live. The purpose of maintaining lists of sexual offenders is to give information to the public. The public, in turn, can use the lists in a variety of ways.

One use of the lists is for employers to check on prospective employees seeking jobs in areas where sexual offenders would create a public-safety concern. Other members of the public want to know if there are sexual offenders living in their neighborhoods.

The lists have served a useful purpose since their inception, and several sheriffs around the state went the extra step of posting photographs on their Web sites. But the photos were removed after the Missouri State Highway Patrol, which maintains a master list of the nearly 10,000 offenders statewide, ascertained Missouri statutes did not permit the photos.

That will change Aug. 28 when a new law takes effect. Sheriffs in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties, along with others, say they intend to include photos with their sexual offender lists.

Cape Girardeau County currently has 97 offenders on its list, and there are 116 offenders registered in Scott County. Because of concerns about repeat offenses, citizens can help spot registered offenders engaged in suspicious activities and report them to local law enforcement officials.

Keeping our families, friends and neighbors safe from potentially dangerous situations is a major concern. Making tools available to help the public in this regard helps the public feel safer.

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