Convicted sex offenders who have been released from custody must register with the police. You can see if the most dangerous have moved into your area at the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) Sex Offender Information Center.
Why is DPS doing this?
In June 1996, Arizona adopted its version of “Megan’s Law” that includes a process for notifying the community when a sex offender is released from jail or prison, or when they are on probation. By putting this information on the Internet, everyone can now access the information and can help keep it up to date. The Center for the Management of Sex Offenders has recognized Maricopa County as one of 16 areas in the country that has implemented unique resources for the management of sex offenders.
Megan’s law
Megan Kanka was 7 years old when a twice convicted sex offender, who lived across the street, brutally raped and murdered her. The crime occurred in New Jersey. In 1994, Governor Christine Todd Whitman signed “Megan’s Law” requiring convicted sex offenders to register with the local police. The law also establishes a system of notification to the public. President Clinton signed the law in May 1996.
In 2006, President George W. Bush enacted the Adam Walsh Child Safety and Protection Act. This law included the Dru Law, which, among other things, changed the name of the National Public Registry of Sex Offenders to the national public website of Dru Sjodin.
Who is on the Arizona list?Â
The Arizona Department of Public Safety knows that there are approximately 14,500 sex offenders in the State of Arizona (2012).
Registered sex offenders from other states must register in Arizona only if they will be in Arizona for more than 10 days, even if they are only visiting. Transients must also register and are designated as “homeless.” There is a limit to how many sex offenders on probation can reside in a multi-family dwelling to avoid grouping. Arizona law stipulates that Level 3 sex offenders cannot reside within 1,000 feet of a school or day care center (certain exemptions apply).
How the risk is set and what the levels mean
There are 19 criteria used to assess the likelihood that a convicted sex offender will re-commit such a crime. Point values are evaluated for all 19 risk factors, and the total points derived for an individual determine whether they will be assigned a rating of Level 1, 2, or 3. Level 1 represents low risk, Level 2 represents intermediate risk, and Level 3 represents high risk.
Who gets notified when a convicted sex offender is released?
- Level 1 offenders: law enforcement agencies
- Level 2 Offenders: Registered community organizations involved with children and staff members in those facilities who deal directly with children or victims.
- Level 3 Offenders: Same as Level 2, above. In addition, the offender’s neighbors are notified.
Information on Level 2 and Level 3 offenders is also available online as mentioned at the beginning of this article. Information on Level 1 offenders is not publicly available.
What does this list mean to me and my family?
In general, it means that your family needs to understand who sex offenders are, who they live nearby, and that your family members need to take basic safety precautions. However, knowing that sex offenders live in the area does not give anyone the right to harass them, destroy their property, threaten them, or commit any other criminal act against them. People who do so will be arrested and prosecuted. Talk to your kids about strangers and find out what their school teaches them about safety.
Is this fair to sex offenders?
Not everyone agrees that people convicted of sex crimes should, in essence, be punished forever with their names, photos, and other pertinent information provided to the wider community when they have paid their debt to society as defined by a Justice Court .
Do other states do this?
They Yes. To view registration information for other states, go to the National Sex Offender Public Registry. Not all states have the same statutes or procedures, so check with each state individually.
