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Dem Times - Is Your Neighborhood Safe?
I would like to add some commentary to Patrick Ellis’ article about the Alabama Sex Offender Website that appeared in the Demopolis Times on January 10th.
While it is nice to be able to check the website to see where the sex offenders live in our county, it is obvious that someone is not doing their job, either in checking up on the sex offenders or getting the information on the Sex Offender Website. Scott Tucker was referenced as one such offender. His address is listed in the paper and on the website as 500 South Shiloh Street in Linden. Let it be noted that Mr. Tucker has not lived at that address for a few years now. Because of his status as a sex offender, he could not live in the vicinity of the Linden schools and had to move after his conviction. He now lives outside Linden off of County Road 44 on family property, and has for a few years now. Marengo County Sheriff’s Deputies visit him ever so often to verify his residency. As for the other sex offenders in the county, let it be noted that Marengo County has had E-911 addresses for several years now. Any sex offender who has a route and/or box number for an address apparently has no current information on the website. Charlie Williams, who was listed as location unknown has obviously fallen through the cracks in the system somewhere. If law enforcement doesn’t know where he is, he’s definitely not in compliance with his sex offender guidelines and should be in jail. Furthermore, the site is supposed to provide pictures or mug shots if you will, of the sex offenders. Many of these sex offenders listed on the website don’t have photos with their listings. If sex offenders have to come in to a law enforcement agency periodically for fingerprinting, I don’t see why they can’t obtain updated photos to put on the website while they’re at it.
The State of Alabama is failing in its obligation (Megan’s Law) to the public in providing notification of sex offenders in our neighborhoods. I don’t know if the information is not being collected by local law enforcement in all cases, or if the information is being collected but just not being updated on the website by the state of Alabama. In either case, I hope someone in a position to correct this will take note and do something about it.
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