Craig Webre Sheriff

Craig Webre Sheriff One in five children will be sexually abused by the age of 18. -U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s Bureau, 2000

In addition to our children, victims of sex offenses include women, men, and our senior citizens. Each year more than 60,000 rapes are committed against women older than 50 years of age. One out of every six American women have been the victims of an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. In 2002, approximately 11,000 men were raped. Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2002

Most sexual assaults are committed by strangers. -Center for Sex Offender Management, August 2000 Craig Webre Sheriff

Truth: Most sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim or the victim’s family, regardless of whether the victim is a child or an adult. -Center for Sex Offender Management, 2000 Craig Webre Sheriff

Only 39% of rapes and sexual assaults are actually reported to law enforcement officials — about one in every three. Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2002 Craig Webre Sheriff

7-year-old girl raped and killed by a known child molester who had moved across the street from her family without their knowledge. President Clinton signed Megan's Law in Requires each state to notify the public when sex offenders are residing in their area. All fifty states now have some form of sex registration laws. Megan Kanka Megan’s Law

Louisiana Law LA R.S. 15:540 Provides in Part “The legislature finds that sex offenders, sexually violent predators, and child predators often pose a high risk … and that protection of the public … is of paramount governmental interest.” “The legislature further finds that local law enforcement officers' efforts to protect their communities … are impaired by the lack of information available.” “Therefore, this state's policy is to assist local law enforcement agencies' efforts to protect their communities by requiring sex offenders... to register with state and local law enforcement agencies and to require the exchange of relevant information … among state, local, and federal public agencies … and to members of the general public.”

Sex Offender Responsibilities: Register within 21 days upon Conviction Release from confinement Louisiana residency established Mail notification to the community Within a one mile radius in a rural area Within a 3/10 of a mile radius in an urban area If victim was under 13, sex offender cannot establish a residence or be present within 1000 ft. of any elementary or secondary school Louisiana Law (In accordance with LA R.S. 15:540 et seq.)

Sex Offender Responsibilities (Continued): Driver’s License sex offender restriction code Renew yearly Must carry special sex offender identification card at all times Newspaper Publication Twice within 30 days Registration updates Annual renewal of registration Notification within ten days of change of address Must register if absent from address of registration for longer than 30 days Must register at all places of residence Louisiana Law (In accordance with LA R.S. 15:540 et seq.)

Sex Offender Responsibilities: Duration of Registration Ten years upon completion of sentence Lifetime Sexually violent predator Panel created to evaluate all sex offenders prior to release Prior conviction which required registration Specified aggravated offenses Louisiana Law (In accordance with LA R.S. 15:540 et seq.)

Non Compliance: First Conviction Fine: $1000 maximum and Confinement: 2 year mandatory minimum/10 year maximum with hard labor and without parole, probation, or suspension Second or Subsequent Conviction Fine: $3000 Confinement: 5 year mandatory minimum/20 year maximum without parole, probation, or suspension Louisiana Law (In accordance with LA R.S. 15:540 et seq.)

Within 24 hours of entering a shelter Sex offender must notify shelter manager and local law enforcement of offender’s status Shelter manager must make reasonable effort to notify local law enforcement Offender must be housed separate from general population Offender must re-register if physically present in a different parish for more than 30 days Louisiana Law Responsibility during Declaration of Emergency (In accordance with LA R.S. 15:540 et seq.)

Compliance is predominately in the HANDS of the convicted. Registration Irony Craig Webre Sheriff

9-year-old Jessica Lunsford John Evander Couey, a previously known sex offender, kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and murdered Jessica. Couey was arrested on a probation violation and failure to register his change of address as required as a sex offender. Convicted Cannot be Trusted

Lack of clarity Beginning of ten years? Mail out mechanisms? Re-notification to community? Compliance enforcement? Unfunded mandate? Overlapping responsibilities Sheriff Police Chief (City over 400,000) Department of Public Safety and Corrections Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information Who does what? When? Where? How? Weaknesses and Deficiencies

Our Strategy Craig Webre Sheriff

To enhance and improve sex offender registration law To ensure compliance with sex offender registry laws To identify and apprehend non-compliant sex offenders To provide accurate and readily accessible data to citizens of Lafourche Parish Craig Webre Sheriff Goals of S.O.A.P

S.O.A.P. Overview Responsibilities of Local Law Enforcement Policy and Procedures of LPSO S.O.A.P. Website and Database Maintenance Outreach and Education Craig Webre Sheriff

Program Procedures 1)Offenders are processed, photographed, and fingerprinted through AFIS at LPDC. Craig Webre Sheriff

S.O.A.P. Procedures 2) Offenders pay a registration fee to offset costs of the monitoring program. Craig Webre Sheriff

Program Procedures Craig Webre Sheriff 3) A manual and electronic file is created, maintained, and housed at LPDC. The files include: –All DOC Paperwork –Clerk of Court Minutes –Current Photo –Registration Documents –Criminal History

Program Procedures 4) The registration officer creates a list of offenders scheduled for address offenders scheduled for address verification checks. verification checks. Semi-annual checks for offenders on probation/paroleSemi-annual checks for offenders on probation/parole Quarterly checks for offenders not on probation/paroleQuarterly checks for offenders not on probation/parole Craig Webre Sheriff

Program Procedures Craig Webre Sheriff 5) A field officer is assigned to: Locate offenders at the home address provided.Locate offenders at the home address provided. Update information as needed i.e. photos, change in vehicle, employment etc.Update information as needed i.e. photos, change in vehicle, employment etc. Provide necessary instructions on compliance requirements to offenders.Provide necessary instructions on compliance requirements to offenders. Conduct further investigation if the offender is not located at the address provided.Conduct further investigation if the offender is not located at the address provided. Physical arrestPhysical arrest Arrest WarrantArrest Warrant

Lafourche Parish Stats (as of May 2006) Total Offenders Registered Category Breakdown: –Compliant (47.00%) –Non-Compliant - 19 (6.71%) –Completed Registration Period (10 years) - 33 (11.66%) –Incarcerated Offenders - 31 (10.95%) –Out of Area Offenders - 55 (19.43%) –Deceased Offenders - 12 (4.24%) Of the 152 Offenders Active in Lafourche Parish: –Compliant (87.50%) –Noncompliant - 19 (12.50%) *Warrants either secured or to be secured for those noncompliant Total collections from Offender Registration fees to cover period of July to March - $7,800 Craig Webre Sheriff

Outreach and Education Partner with Neighborhood Watch Program for community outreach Inform and collaborate with local law enforcement agencies, media outlets, and civic organizations Meet regularly with S.O.A.P. committee Awareness through public information Maintain webpage Craig Webre Sheriff

Craig Webre Sheriff