Automatic Relocation Notice Alerts Houston Police Dept. of Sex Offender from New Mexico

Without being connected to a national network of sex offender registries,somelaw enforcement agencieswho register sex offendersmay not be aware of registered offenders moving into their jurisdiction. However,OffenderWatchautomatesrelocationnotificationsand record sharingfor partners in its network—saving time and potentially saving future victims.This summer,whenaregisteredsex offender failed to appear for his 90-day check-inwithBernalilloSheriff’s Office,New Mexico, theinvestigatorturned to OffenderWatch.After pulling up the offender’s profile in OffenderWatch’srecords, the investigatorcalledthe offender and learned he had moved to Houston, Texaswithoutinformingeitherregisteringlaw enforcement agency. When theBernalilloinvestigator updated the offender’s address to Houston, OffenderWatchimmediatelyalertedthe Houston Police Department that the offender had moved to their jurisdiction.Without the relocation notification, the offender could have remained non-compliantand risk the safety of the Houston community.Houston PD had immediate access to theoffender’scomprehensive recordfrom Bernalilloand any previousagencies where the offender was registered.Without OffenderWatch, Houston PD would have had to spend time contacting the registering agency where the offender previously lived, waiting on his records and information to be mailed, faxed or sent—which can sometimes take weeks and cost money. Houston PDimmediatelyaccessedthe offender’s extensive historical record, saving significant data entry time. The departmentalready knowsthe offender’saddress, phone numbers andoriginal conviction information without spending hours on the phone with the out-of-state agency and out-of-state courthouse.With this informationHouston PD can ensure the offender remains compliant orbegin an investigationto obtain a warrantfor non-compliance.TheOffenderWatchNetworkhelps registering agenciessave time and money—by sendingautomaticrelocationalertsand sharing recordswhen offenders movebetweenjurisdictionsandtimeisof the essence.