Tidying up the system

More than six years after adopting its own "Megan's Law," Missouri remains distantly behind many states in notifying residents of a convicted sex offender's whereabouts. And despite years of taking down names and addresses, authorities still can't say with accuracy how many sex offenders live in any given area.

There is no statewide list accessible to the public. Nor does Missouri broadly notify vulnerable communities or individuals when sex offenders are released from prison or probation.

The most recent addition to Cape Girardeau County's list came Wednesday after a Cairo, Ill., man was arrested on a warrant for soliciting sex from a woman for money and sexual misconduct. He told deputies he'd been living in the county at least half the time, said Sgt. Sharon Jones. He was registered in Alexander County, Ill., for a previous sex crime conviction.

"But he'd been living here for God knows how long and we didn't know it," she said.

It's left to the courts and probation and parole officers to advise offenders to either continue registering or face further prosecution. But critics say that's effective only while the offender is in the probation and parole system. Afterward, some choose to drop off the map.

There is no legislated standard telling Missouri's sheriff's departments exactly how the lists should be maintained. The statute that created the lists simply says departments must provide a copy to any member of the public who asks for one.

'Typical unfunded mandate'

Sheriff's departments say they don't have the manpower to verify addresses or track down offenders who have stopped registering.

"About all we have time for is to do a follow-up if somebody calls us to report someone they think should be on the list," said Capt. Jerry Bledsoe of the Scott County Sheriff's Department. "As far as maintaining the list and verifying the addresses -- we don't have time."

Cape Girardeau County Sheriff John Jordan supports the premise of Megan's Law but said it amounted to "a typical unfunded mandate" by the state legislature -- ordering up an enormous record system without considering the costs to the counties.

"It's a good thing to do," Jordan said. "But if you've only got so many people to work with, it becomes time consuming to run. ... It's a good law, but there are problems with it."

One of those problems is with the kind of offenders put on the list, he said.

"I think there are certain offenses that don't even belong on the list," Jordan said. "Things like inappropriate touching."

'Passive notification'

That's why he's currently in agreement with the state's "passive notification" system. Lists are available, but the public isn't notified when an offender moves into a community. Jordan suggested narrowing the scope to "sexual predators," such as rapists and pedophiles.

"I would be very much for a very strong notification system if we got a list like that," he said. "If you've got a refined list, it's got a lot more teeth to it."

According to the Center for Sex Offender Management in Silver Spring, Md., Missouri is among 17 states practicing passive notification. Fourteen states perform risk assessments on sex offenders and then notify specific individuals or vulnerable populations. Nineteen states practice "broad community notification" and widely publicize information based on either the offense committed, assessed risk or law enforcement discretion.

Missouri's registry law says convicted sex offenders must, within 10 days of conviction, release from incarceration or placement on probation, register with the sheriff's office in the county in which they reside or any county to which they relocate.

Registration is usually a lifetime requirement unless all convictions requiring registration are reversed or the registrant is pardoned. Offenders must either register annually or, if the victim was a minor, every 90 days and on their birthdays. Failure to register is a misdemeanor in Missouri and can earn up to a year in jail or a $1,000 fine.

9,317 in registry

Sheriff's departments forward a copy of the registration form, photographs and fingerprints to the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Criminal Records Division in Jefferson City.

Currently, 9,317 offenders are in the state's registry, said spokeswoman Tammy Byrd. The number changes daily due to offenders dying or relocating and sometimes because of changes in the law.

The patrol is merely a repository for the information. It doesn't release it. Unlike most states, Missouri has no statewide list available to the public -- nor does it provide any statistics on what percentage of offenders committed certain types of crimes or where in the state the highest number of registered offenders are.

Thirty-nine other states currently have a statewide list accessible to the public online, according to the KlaasKids Foundation -- a group that tracks sex offender laws across the nation.

Scott County was the second county in Missouri to post its sex offender list online, Bledsoe said.

And people are looking.

The Web page received a record 809 hits in November, Bledsoe said. In December, 731 hits were recorded. The list is updated often. A staff member sends any additions to Bledsoe via e-mail.

"I print out the e-mail, lay it on my desk, and when I get a free moment, I update it," he said. "I can add somebody on or take them off in a matter of minutes. It's real quick."

Cape Girardeau County also posts a list online, but the Web page hasn't been updated since Nov. 18, 2002. However, a current copy of the list is available at the sheriff's office.

Perry County Sheriff Gary Schaaf said his department recoups some of the administrative costs of maintaining a list by charging for copies.

"We might get a few requests for copies before school starts, but that's about it," he said.

Bollinger County Sheriff Terry Wiseman isn't bothered by the time and expense. There may be four times in a year someone requests a copy, he said.

"I'll do it gladly without any funding," Wiseman said. "We'll show it to them if they come in the door."

Bledsoe believes the lists may deter previously convicted offenders from reoffending.

"I think the repeat offenders almost have to feel like everybody's watching them," Bledsoe said. "If I were in their place, I'd probably think that my neighbors must all know."

Victims can request to be notified when specific abusers are released and where they reside, Bledsoe said. However, the general public cannot.

"It's a lot of work for a probation officer to make those notifications, but I think people should be aware that service is available to them," Bledsoe said.

mwells@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160