FDLE encourages parents to know whose door kids are knocking on

FDLE encourages parents to know whose door kids are knocking on

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has launched a Halloween-themed radio public service announcement designed to encourage Florida families to sign up for the Florida Offender Alert System. The system sends e-mail alert notifications when registered sexual offenders or predators move into a neighborhood or any other location designated by the user.

The 15 and 30-second public service announcements encourage families to visit www.flsexoffender.net to subscribe to receive e-mail alert notifications when registered sexual offenders or predators move into neighborhoods. FDLE also encourages citizens to use the Neighborhood Search feature prior to signing up for alerts to identify registered sexual offenders and predators currently living in neighborhoods where their children will be trick or treating or congregating.

The Florida Offender Alert System is offered through FDLE’s Web site and on many local law enforcement agencies’ Web sites throughout the state. Citizens are encouraged to visit their local law enforcement agency’s Web site first to register for alerts and access local safety information. More than 43,000 individuals have signed up for this service since its launch in March. And more than 360,000 emails have been sent notifying citizens about address changes.

The Neighborhood Search feature on FDLE’s Web site allows users to enter any Florida address and obtain a list of all registered sex offenders and predators living within a one quarter to five mile radius of the address entered by the user. These services are offered statewide at no charge.

FDLE developed the notification service at the direction of the Florida Legislature as part of the state’s compliance with the federal Adam Walsh Act. Citizens may select an unlimited number of addresses and/or offenders and predators to track, and can update their selections at any time. The alert system will send e-mail notifications within 24 to 48 hours of an address change to the state’s registry. Currently, there are more than 48,000 registered sexual offenders and predators in the Florida Sex Offender Registry.

Citizens can register for the alerts and access the neighborhood search feature by visiting their local law enforcement agency’s Web site or by visiting www.flsexoffender.net.