Kansas Agencies Collaborate on OffenderWatch to Make Arrests, Save Children

On Thursday, July 11, authorities from Shawnee County,Kansas,conducted ahistoricsweep, resulting in the arrests ofeightoffenders, most of whomwere non-compliant with court-ordered requirements.With the help ofOffenderWatch’snationalnetworkof sex offender managementtools, over 50 law enforcement, parole and probation officers worked together toresearch over 200 registered sex offenders in Kansas. The operation was to check compliance with the Kansas Offender Registration Act identified and arrest violators of that act,ensureoffenders were complying with requirements of parole or probation, and arrest people wanted on outstanding warrants.Shawnee County Sheriff Brian C. Hill’s office and the U.S. Marshal’s Service co-directed the operation, and the multi-agency sweep involvedthe Topeka Police Department, Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office, Kansas Department of Corrections, Shawnee County Department of Corrections, U.S. Probation Office and 3rdJudicial District Court Services.Together they performed 233 compliance checks which resulted in eight arrests, six of whomwere registered sex offenders.During the sweep, they also removed three children in need of care from a household and gathered information that resulted in the sheriff’s office’s opening up three new investigations into offender registration violation cases.  SergeantAaron Riveraof Shawnee Countywho oversees the Sex Offender Registry unit said that OffenderWatch’s “search and export feature was very useful and saved us a bunch of time. It allowed us to share information amongst the various agencies.” Withoneclick, an offender record can be shared with the United States Marshals Servicefor immediate help in locating absconded offenders, Adam Walsh Act violation arrests, or performing compliance and enforcement operations.The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office had immediate access to the offenders’ comprehensive records and any previous agencies where the offender was registered. Without OffenderWatch, the combined agencies would have had to spend time contacting the registering agencies where the offenders previously lived, waiting on records and information to bemailed or faxed—a process that often results in days or weeks of time lost.Shawnee County immediately accessedand sharedthe offenders’ extensive historical records with their partnered agencies, saving significanttime. Thanks to the robust record system, the agencies already have the offenders’addresses, phone numbers and original conviction information documentedin an easy to read format.“Offender registration forms were very organized and easy to follow,” says Rivera. “Everyone, including those who had never seen them before, could easily follow and find out what they’re looking for.”With this information, they can ensure the offender remains compliant, or in the case of Shawnee County,beginthe processto obtain a warrant for non-compliancewith ease.Learn more about how OffenderWatch can help streamline your agency's offender registry.