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Sex offender registry adds mapping option

JANESVILLE — After years of lobbying from the Janesville Police Department, the state sex offender registry has added a mapping feature.

The police department has long ago asked the state Department of Corrections to develop a map-based locating system to search for sex offenders, claiming it would be a tool for the public and law enforcement.

"We talked to just about anybody who would listen," Janesville Deputy Police Chief David Moore said. "The department felt it was a public safety issue."

The response was always "we’re working on it," but the mapping feature finally went online this month.

It allows people to put in an address to view a map showing sex offenders living in the area, said Melissa Roberts, state director of sex offender programs.

It also allows law enforcement to enter the address where a sexual assault occurs to search for offenders living nearby, Moore said.

Investigators then can talk to offenders within minutes of the crime to decide whether they are suspects, he said.

Registered users also can receive e-mail notifications when a sex offender moves within 1 to 5 miles of their homes, Roberts said.

The previous Web site only allowed people to search by zip code. The site then provided a list of offenders in the area. But the list often included more than 100 people.

A user then had to look at each name to find an address. The person also had to have knowledge of the city’s geography to know whether the offender lived nearby.

"It just wasn’t a very friendly system, and we knew there were better systems available," Moore said. "We were very happy to see the Department of Corrections add this enhancement to the sex offender registry."

The corrections department partnered with the nonprofit Family Watchdog to provide the mapping technology, Roberts said. The site is updated daily.

The site has seen more traffic since the mapping feature went online, she said. The goal is to get more information to the public, Roberts said, and keep people safe.

"The citizens and law enforcement have been interested in having more of a visual aid," she said. "We believe it will help."

FOR MORE ONLINE

The state sex offender registry's Web site is at www.widocoffenders.org.

Users can enter their home address or other locations to view a map showing sex offenders living in the area.

People also can enroll in the automatic e-mail notification system to receive notices when sex offenders move into the area.