CARNAHAN SUGGESTS SEX OFFENDER LIST ON NET

Should Missouri's sex offender list be posted on the Internet?

Gov. Mel Carnahan proposed the idea in his state of the state speech on Wednesday.

The public could obtain the list by clicking on the Missouri Department of Public Safety's home page.

The Web page would include the offender's name, place of residence, date of birth, appearance and criminal record.

Carnahan also wants to establish a registry of juvenile sexual offenders. Only schools, state agencies, juvenile and law enforcement officials would have access to that information.

"While we must maintain the confidentiality that is required by state law for young offenders, we need to require juvenile courts to maintain a registry of juvenile sex offenders," Carnahan told lawmakers in state of the state address.

The governor's budget proposes spending $391,122 to fund two staff positions within the Highway Patrol and pay for computer upgrades to set up an Internet-based registry of sex offenders.

Some local officials have reservations about the governor's plan.

Cape Girardeau County Sheriff John Jordan and Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle questioned allowing the public access to the adult offenders list via the Internet.

"My first inclination is to say, no," Jordan said.

The sheriff said that putting the list on the Internet would make it easy for sex offenders to get in touch with other sex offenders and exchange ideas.

"It's a warm environment and germs grow," said Jordan.

Swingle said the Internet could make it easy for vigilantes to target sex offenders.

Missouri already requires sexual offenders to register with their county sheriff's department. The list includes their names, addresses and the particular crime for which they were convicted.

They also are fingerprinted and photographed.

A copy of the registration goes to the Missouri Highway Patrol in Jefferson City, which keeps a central registry.

Some 4,000 names are on the statewide, computerized list, said Capt. Bob Gartner of the Highway Patrol's criminal records division.

Gartner said some states already post such lists on the Internet.

The Internet is just another way of making the information available to the public, he said.

But Jordan and Swingle suggested the current system works well.

The public can obtain a copy of the list of sexual offenders in a particular county by personally visiting the sheriff's department, signing a form and paying a $2 fee.

The current system has been in effect in since 1997.

Cape Girardeau County began making the list available to the public in September 1997.

To date, 60 people have visited the sheriff's office in Jackson and obtained the list. Only two of the requests came from the news media, said sheriff's Capt. Ruth Ann Dickerson.

Dickerson said 45 sex offenders are on the list in Cape Girardeau County. She estimated one or two sexual offenders register with the county each month.

If they move, they are required to notify the sheriff's office of their new address within 10 days.

Swingle said the list is a way for day-care centers and schools to check the background of job applicants.

But Dickerson said those who ask for the lists aren't required to identify their employer. She said she doesn't know how many schools and day-care centers obtain copies of the list.

Swingle said it appears few people want the sex offender list.

Swingle said putting the list on the Internet would make it easier for people to obtain the information.

"I don't really feel strongly about it one way or another," he said.

Swingle said he doesn't see any reason for a registry of juvenile sex offenders.

The governor said 961 minors were referred to juvenile court for sexual offenses in Missouri in 1997, but Swingle said juveniles, 14 and older who commit serious sexual offenses such as rape, can and often are charged as adults. Even those younger than 14 can be charged as adults in some cases, he said.

Swingle said few juveniles younger than 14 are likely to commit serious sexual offenses.

Those juveniles certified as adults would be listed on the sex offender list that already is available to the public.

"I am not convinced there is a problem right now with not having a list of juvenile offenders," said Swingle.

Jordan said he hasn't formed an opinion yet on the merits of a juvenile registry.