Sex offender registry now searchable by address

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin’s sex offender registry is now searchable by address, state Department of Corrections officials said.

The Wisconsin State Journal reported Wednesday that people can now enter a specific address and search for registered offenders who live within a one-, two- or three-mile radius. People have been able to search the registry only by name or zip code since 2001.

“An informed community is a safer community and citizens have a right to know if a registered sex offender is living in their neighborhood,” said Grace Roberts, director of the department’s sex offender programs. “By providing the ability to do geographic searches of neighborhoods, citizens can personalize the search to meet their area and needs.”

The revamped website also includes maps and a community notification system, which allows people to get email alerts when a registered sex offender provides a home address that’s near an address of interest, such as a school.

“The ability to receive an alert by email about a registrant moving into a neighborhood proactively provides the information to the users,” Roberts said.

Corrections staff launched the new website in April. The site’s address is offender.doc.state.wi.us/public.

Information from: Wisconsin State Journal, http://www.madison.com/wsj