August 08, 2006
August 8, 2006
Latest initiatives improve tracking, increase public awareness
LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced new initiatives that target sex offenders who threaten children and fail to comply with state registry requirements. Granholm, who was joined by Michigan State Police (MSP) Director Colonel Peter C. Munoz and Michigan Department of Corrections (DOC) Director Patricia L. Caruso, also encouraged the Legislature to pass pending legislation to strengthen sex offender tracking.
“Michigan’s law enforcement officers work hard every day to protect our children from those who would abuse and exploit them,” Granholm said. “These initiatives provide important new tools and will help the public be stronger partners in that effort, as well.”
Granholm said that parole officers at DOC will soon be able to track registered sex offenders who are using MySpace.com, the Internet’s most visited website, to target children. MySpace.com has more than 40 million registered users, including more than 8 million under the age of 18. Parole officers whose caseload includes sex offenders will receive training to learn how the site operates and how sex offenders use the site to target children.
“Technology has opened up new methods for criminals looking to prey on our children,” said Caruso. “They no longer have to peep in windows or linger on school grounds; they can track our children online when they are vulnerable and unsuspecting. By training our parole officers to use the same methods as modern-day criminals, we are providing them with the tools they need to do their jobs effectively and keep our children safe.”
In addition, Granholm and Munoz announced the MSP will begin posting a top-ten list of sex offender absconders, with photos, to better inform the public about individuals who are not in compliance with the reporting requirements of the state's sex offender registry and may pose a danger to the public. Michigan's Sex Offenders Registration Act requires individuals convicted of certain sexual offenses to register their address with law enforcement after conviction, prior to sentencing. Additionally, registered offenders must report a change of address within ten days of moving or face a four-year felony. The list can be found at www.michigan.gov/absconders .
“Law enforcement officers work every day to keep Michigan families and children safe, and our best ally is a public that is informed and committed to helping in that effort,” said Munoz. “The more information we provide to the public, the better partner they become in helping keep our streets and neighborhoods safe.”
Providing the public with the “Have You Seen These People” list will also assist law enforcement officers involved in Operation Verify, a statewide enforcement effort led by the MSP aimed at ensuring compliance with the state's Sex Offenders Registration Act. Since October 2005, officers participating in Operation Verify have conducted more than 6,600 random residence checks and arrested more than 1,400 absconders.
Finally, Granholm encouraged legislative leaders to pass a three-bill package currently pending in the Senate that would require prisoners convicted of a crime that requires registration on the state’s sex offender registry to provide DOC officers with their intended place of residence before being released from prison. Currently, prisoners who complete their sentence have ten days from the time of release to notify local law enforcement of their new address. Those who choose not to comply with state law are often difficult to track down after ten days.
Today’s announcement is the latest in a series of steps Governor Granholm has taken to help make Michigan communities safer, including:
apprehending more than 2,000 fugitive felons through Project S.A.F.E. Street;
enacting tough new laws to protect Michigan children, including legislation that keeps sex offenders away from schools and child care facilities;
signing Jessica’s Law to increase penalties for sex crimes against children;
calling for and signing legislation to protect children from the dangers of methamphetamines; and,
calling for and signing legislation requiring criminal background checks for workers in nursing homes and assisted living facilities to help protect Michigan’s most vulnerable citizens.
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