Cloud computing and cloud-based solutionshavebecome increasingly popularfor law enforcement agencies. Should your agencyconsiderSoftware-as-a-Service(SaaS)?Many agenciescalculatethe total cost of ownership (TCO), not just the initial expense, when deciding between an on-premise or cloud-based software solution. TCOconsiders both direct and indirect costs associated with a purchase over the course of the full lifespan of the purchase.Your TCO calculation should include fixed indirect costs like administration and personnel costs,as well asrecurring indirect costssuch as subscription and maintenance fees.InperformingaTCO comparison between on-premise and cloud-basedsoftware,mostagenciessoon realize there is ahuge cost savingsincloud-based solutions for public safety agencies.

DIRECT CAPITAL EXPENSES 

Software License & Subscription 

Cloud-based SoftwareOn-Premise Systems

• Licensed as a “pay as you go” subscription.  
• Low initial set-up fee.  
• Recurring subscription payments. 

• Requires a large upfront purchase of a software license and annual maintenance fees. 

INDIRECT OPERATING EXPENSES 

System Hardware 

Cloud-based SoftwareOn-Premise Systems

• No physical hardware to purchase or maintain. 
• No storage or operational costs.  
• Server capacity, data compliance, and security are included. 

• Significant upfront costs for hardware purchases.
• Requires regular maintenance and other operational costs.  
• The agency is responsible for storing, securing, powering, and maintaining their system, and ensuring compliance with data storage requirements. 

Hardware and Software Installation 

Cloud-based SoftwareOn-Premise Systems

• Accessed from any internet-connected device.
• No need to install physical hardware. 

• Requires the purchase of hardware, associated equipment and related vendor professional services.  
• Agency must provide secure facilities with physical storage space, reliable power/AC systems, and redundant network access. 
• Software must be installed on-site directly on agency hardware. 

Software Upgrades & Updates 

Cloud-based SoftwareOn-Premise Systems

• Shorter, more frequent upgrade cycles.  
• No downtime during updates so your applications are available on a constant, reliable basis. 

• Software upgrades are usually expensive, irregularly timed, interrupt on-going work and are time-consuming to roll out.  
• Agencies often skip scheduled upgrades, leading to increased vulnerability to cyber-attack. 

Scalability 

Cloud-based SoftwareOn-Premise Systems

• Scalable and “Future-proof” to handle increasing demands of the agency.  
• Additional storage capacity is included in your subscription cost or available for an additional fee. 

• Systems hardware requires periodic upgrades to meet expanding demands for increased speed and storage capacity. 

Security 

Cloud-based SoftwareOn-Premise Systems

• Security updates and upgrades for systems are kept up to date. 
• CJIS facilities and Security certifications and protections are available.  

• All security measures are the responsibility of and must be performed entirely by the agency. 
• Keeping up to date with security checks is costly and time consuming for IT staff. 
• Security certifications and facility audits may be too expensive and time-consuming for individual agencies. 

CHOOSING A SAAS VENDOR 

Evaluate vendors based on their success in providing software services of similar size and function.Choosing an experiencedsoftware-as-a-serviceproviderhelps ensurethe success of your projectby lowering technical, cost, and schedule risks.The selected vendor should beattuned to the special needs oflaw enforcement agenciesandthe impact on public safety.A complete solution includesongoing user trainingto agency staffand support forsoftware functionalchanges as a result of changes to statutes and agency policies.

OFFENDERWATCH AS A SAAS SOLUTION 

TheOffenderWatchsex offender registryproducthas been provided as asoftware-as-a-service (SaaS)solutionfor law enforcementsince 2001.An annual subscription enablesagencies to adoptthe latesttechnologywhileminimizingoperating expenses.Our law enforcement partners enjoyed online maps before Google Mapswas available,andOffenderWatchpioneered email notifications from law enforcement to the public. Over 20 yearsOffenderWatchhas successfully scaled to support over 15,000 users from 3,400 law enforcement agencies in 38 states. TodayOffenderWatchis expanding internationally and introducing new smart phone apps and artificial intelligence technologies to our public safety partners.

Natural disasters like wildfires, hurricanes, flash floods, earthquakes and tornadoes can strike at any moment, anywhere. Communities that are predisposed to certain disasters should have a plan in place to help be prepared for “the big one.” For law enforcement, preparation not only means thinking about duties as first responders, but also considering how their agency will monitor and manage registered sex offenders in their jurisdiction.For Det. Jason Miller of the Butte County Sheriff’s Office in Oroville, CA, his preparation proved extremely useful during the tragic Camp Fire wildfire. In November 2018, a wildfire started in Butte County burning more than 150,000 acres of land over two weeks. The fires took the lives of at least 85 people and destroyed more than 18,000 buildings.Paradise, CA, was one town that was hit the hardest during the disaster. Once news of the fires hit, Det. Miller and the Sheriff’s Office sprung into action, immediately assisting the Paradise Police Department in its response. Det. Miller knew Paradise needed to contact registered sex offenders in and around the city.

“Using the OffenderWatch program, we track [sex offenders] better. We know where they’re at and they know that we’re coming to check on them,” Det. Miller said.

He and the other Sex Offender Registry team members check on all registered sex offenders in their counties at least once per year to ensure they are living at the same address and adhering to the law. “They know we’re always looking out,” he said.After the Camp Fire, Det. Miller used OffenderWatch to create geofences and locate all the “290s” (sex offenders registered in California) affected by the fire. Butte County is about 1,600 square miles, so they set up the county into zones to split up and tackle. It took about one week to account for all offenders. “Most offenders reached out to us to let us know where they were at. They realize that we’re serious about keeping tabs on them,” he said.Det. Miller shares these tips for law enforcement agencies when managing sex offenders during a natural disaster:

1. Reach out to surrounding agencies for help.
2. Cross reference lists from non-governmental organizations to check for your offenders. Have they checked into shelters? Are they on a Red Cross list? Have they signed up with FEMA? Do they have new phone number or address?
3. Segment your area into zones and use the geo-location feature to map. Set up the zones and geofencing so you have an idea of what offenders you’re looking for in that particular area.

WWL Radio[/caption]Newell talks to Mike Cormaci, President and co-founder of OffenderWatch, about what we can do to keep our kids safe from predators on the internet. Listen to the WWL radio broadcast. 

At the end of October 2019, the Lea County Sheriff’s Office in New Mexico decided to check that its registered sex offenders still lived at the addresses where they had registered. The office’s Sex Offender Registration and Tracking Unit prepped for “Operation Scat Cat,” checking and verifying addresses for 134 offenders in their jurisdiction.Vivian Martinez has been working at the Sheriff’s Office for 17 years and managing sex offenders for 8½ years.“OffenderWatch makes it really easy to organize the offenders in different parts of the county,” said Vivian Martinez of the Lea County Sheriff’s Office NM Sex Offender Registration and Tracking Unit. “We used OffenderWatch for mapping the sex offenders, doing searches on different towns in Lea County to find where they were located. The mapping systems is really helpful when you’re preparing for an operation.”Vivian Martinez has been using the OffenderWatch platform for years. “I was impressed by how OffenderWatch was able to add or remove from the system, so it was more user-friendly and easier to enter data,” she says. “Data entry is quick and easy if you have all the information you need.”During the operation, the office made two arrests (active outstanding warrant for failure to appear and failure to report a new address).

The OffenderWatch Network helped investigators in the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office, Florida, arrest a registered sex offender who was actively trying to reoffend and create child pornography. According to anarticle on WTXL-TV,Dwayne Creery, a registered sex offender, was “arrested in Wakulla County after deputies discovered he was using multiple Facebook accounts to look for juveniles to be actors in homemade pornographic videos.”“Without the assistance of OffenderWatch serving as an information hub, encouraging the collaboration of multiple state and federal agencies to track and apprehend this absconded sex offender, Dwayne Creery would not have been apprehended in such an efficient and timely manner,” said Detective Brett Surace of the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division.Here’s Det. Surace’s record of how their investigation led to Creery’s arrest:On September 10, 2018, the Wakulla County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office (SO) Criminal Investigations Division (CID) initiated a Failure to Register as a sexual offender investigation on a registered sex offender named Dwayne Creery.Creery had been a registered offender since October 1996 (Lewd and Lascivious act on a victim under the age of 16 and Lewd and Lascivious exhibitionism on a victim under the age of 16).On August 31, 2018, Dwayne Creery was arrested by the Wakulla County SO CID for sex offender violations. Dwayne Creery was incarcerated in the Wakulla County Jail from 8/31/2018 until 9/4/2018.Dwayne Creery failed to register with the Wakulla County SO upon his release from jail as required by Florida Statute (F.S.) 943.0435. Furthermore, Dwayne Creery failed to complete his biannual registration in November as required by F.S. 943.0435.A nationwide sexual offender search was conducted, and no current registration was gleaned on Creery in any other agency or municipality, except for:Last Reported Address – Out of StateBellevue, NE 68123-3758 Sarpy County Registration Received Date: 07/03/2018Type of Address: PermanentAlthough Nebraska noted it was his last address, Creery was out of state, and no longer registered in Nebraska.After searching the National Sex Offender Registration Database, our office found that Creery was not registered in any jurisdiction nationally.The Echart County (Nebraska) SO was contacted and advised Creery was not registered in their jurisdiction or state. The Echart County SO dispatched a deputy to Creery’s last reported address in their state, which was his mother’s residence, in an effort to verify Creery was not staying there. Creery’s mother advised she believed Creery to be somewhere in Florida, and the last time she heard from him was on October 16, 2018. The address in their jurisdiction was a temporary address for Creery, and it reflected Creery arriving on 7/8/2018 and leaving to return to Florida on 7/12/2018.The Wakulla County SO obtained an arrest warrant for Dwayne Creery charging him with Failure to Register pursuant to F.S. 943.0435.9.On 5/29/2019 the Wakulla County SO received the following message through OffenderWatch:From: [redacted]Agency: Gila County AZ Sh (5/29/2019)Creery, Dwayne Anthony DOB: 05/18/71 arrested and in custody Gila County Sheriff’s Office Globe for failure to register/false info to LE.Offender Dwayne Creery arrested in Payson AZ by Payson PD on 05/27/19 for failure to register being in Gila County for 10 days without notifying agency of his entering Gila County and parked at Home Depot. Charged with Failure to reg and false info to LE. Creery is currently incarcerated in the Gila County Jail, Globe facility 1100 South Street Globe AZ…PPD Case # 2019-5710.Contact was made with the Gila County (Arizona) SO only to learn Dwayne Creery had been released from their jail. Unfortunately, the arrest warrant issued in Wakulla County, only allowed for in-state extradition. Therefore, there was no hold or Creery, and no notification was made to the Wakulla County SO of his arrest.The extradition was subsequently amended and expanded to “Nationwide.”Upon a nationwide query of OffenderWatch, the following investigative note was gleaned:“Offender came in after being released from GCSO Jail. [Offender] will be homeless in empty lot 910 S Beeline Hwy and 201 W Main St Payson, AZ.”With the assistance of the United States Marshals Service, Dwayne Creery was arrested in Payson, AZ, on 06/08/19 @ 21:51 hrs., and booked into the Gila County Jail on a Florida Governor’s warrant. Payson PD 190006253/BK# 190600084.

OffenderWatch Safe Virtual Neighborhood was featured in a segment on "Fox & Friends" about technology and apps that help keep students safe. Click the image above to watch the video. Copyright Fox & Friends. Learn how you can use Safe Virtual Neighborhood to help protect your children from online predators and sex offenders.

Internet Safety Tips for Teens

Here are some things you can do to stay safe online.

• Be smart about what you post on the Web and what you say to others. The Web is a lot more public and permanent than it seems.
• Provocative and sexy names and pictures can draw attention from people you don't want in your life.
• Sexy pictures can get you into trouble with the law. If you are underage, they may be considered child pornography, a serious crime.
• Be careful what you download or look at, even for a laugh. Some of the images on the Internet are extreme, and you can’t “unsee” something.
• Going to sex chat rooms and other sex sites may connect you with people who can harass you in ways you don't anticipate.
• Free downloads and file-sharing can put pornography on your computer that you may not want and can be hard to get rid of. Any pornography that shows children or teens under 18 is illegal child pornography and can get you in big trouble.
• Adults who talk to you about sex online are committing a crime. So are adults who meet underage teens for sex. Some teens think it might be fun, harmless or romantic, but it means serious trouble for everyone. It’s best to report it.
• Don't play along with people on the Web who are acting badly, taking risks and being weird. Even if you think it's harmless and feel like you can handle it, it only encourages them and may endanger other young people.
• Report it when other people are acting weird and inappropriately or harassing you or others. It's less trouble just to log off, but these people may be dangerous. Save the communication. Contact the site management, your service provider, the NCMEC CyberTipline 1-800-843-5678, the FBI or your local police.
• Don't let friends influence your better judgment. If you are surfing with other kids, don't let them pressure you to do things you ordinarily wouldn't.
• Be careful if you ever go to meet someone you have gotten to know through the Internet. You may think you know them well, but they may fool you. Go with a friend. Tell your parents. Meet in a public place. Make sure you have your cell phone and an exit plan.
• Don’t harass others. People may retaliate in ways you don’t expect.
• You can overestimate your ability to handle things. It may feel like you are careful, savvy, aware of dangers, and able to manage the risks you take, but there are always unknowns. Don’t risk disasters.

Learn More: Crimes Against Children Research Center

What do I do if you feel threatened or in danger online?

Report it when other people are acting weird and inappropriately or harassing you or others online. It's less trouble just to log off, but these people may be dangerous. Save the communication. Speak with your parents, teacher, or other trusted adult. Contact the site management, your service provider, the NCMEC CyberTipline 1-800-843-5678, your local police, or dial 911.

Get alerts if a registered sex offender makes contact by email or text

OffenderWatch Safe Virtual Neighborhood is the only app that can alert parents of contact from registered sex offenders.

Fox News Kurt Knutsson shows you the best apps to help keep your students safe.

OffenderWatch SVN is one of the best apps to help keep your students safe. Kurt Knutsson of Fox News discusses OffenderWatch Safe Virtual Neighborhood App as one of the Kids safety apps to help parents, schools keep children safe.  Use the SVN app to see a map of sex offenders who live nearby and install the SVN App on your child's phone to follow their movement and see if there are registered sex offenders near your children. A Protect Plus subscription lets parents get an alert should a registered sex offender contact your child by email, phone, or text - or if your child lingers near a registered sex offenders home.  

Police agencies in Niagara County perform regular home checks for registered sex offenders. NiagaraSheriff.com has a list of sex offenders. All you have to do is search for your home address and you will find the offenders in your neighborhood.

There are about 578 registered sex offenders in Niagara County.

“People that have been convicted or found guilty of a crime of a heinous act against our most vulnerable individuals that are out there are children and they need to be protected,” said Joseph Flagler, Niagara County Sheriff's Office deputy.That’s why it’s helpful to know where the offenders live not just on Halloween when kids are trick-or-treating, but all the time. Years ago, sex offenders were listed in three-ring binders. Now thanks to an offender watch, you can find them in Niagara County through a quick internet search.“Progressive parents that know where they live in our community deal with them professionally, properly, do not harass the offender. It’s just knowledge that you know where they are,” said Flagler.NiagaraSheriff.com has a list of sex offenders. All you have to do is search for your home address and you will find the offenders in your neighborhood.Police agencies in Niagara County perform regular home checks for registered sex offenders, all under the jurisdiction of the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office.By Katherine Chloé Cahoon Niagara County

USA Today: St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne talks about the Safe Virtual Neighborhood App.

USA Today: St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne talks about the SVN app that will notify parents when a registered sexual offender contacts their child.[/caption]Mike Cormaci, far left, joins Sheriff Champaign at the press briefing covered by USA Today. The Safe Virtual Neighborhood app is installed on your child's phone and notifies parents should a registered contact their child.

The Leading Sex Offender Registry Network Provides Tips for Families to Keep Kids Safe

Sex offender registries play an important role in helping to keep children safe. Across the nation, sheriffs and other law enforcement agencies use the OffenderWatch software to effectively manage, track and communicate sex offender information across agencies and to the public.The OffenderWatch network connects most agencies nationwide in a collaborative environment to share and communicate real-time data on convicted sex offenders in the community. Publicly shared registry information is a critical tool for parents and the community to be aware of where sex offenders live and work in relation to bus stops, parks, schools, and other places where children may be present.Sheriff and police departments have checked and verified thousands of offenders’ home addresses, updated their websites and sent out hundreds of thousands of email notifications and post cards to the public outlining offender addresses changes. These agencies maintain real-time, verified offender data on their websites. On average, a typical state has over 50,000 changes and address modifications to the registry annually. Other indirect sources that purport to provide offender information cannot provide the same level of accuracy as the law enforcement agency itself. Now that kids are heading back to the classroom, parents are encouraged to check with their local sheriffs’ offices for the most comprehensive, complete and accurate information on sex offenders available, including photos and conviction information. Local agencies also send email notifications to the public about sex offender moves. Sign up with your sheriff or police department to receive automated updates via email when any offender moves into your geographic area. Follow these tips to become more informed about sex offenders in your neighborhood and learn how to talk to your children about the dangers of sexual abuse.

Tips for Safety from Registered Sex Offenders

• Trust Sex Offender Information Coming Directly from Law Enforcement – While there are many services online purporting to offer information on registered sex offenders, citizens should only trust information provided by their local sheriff’s office, police department or the state website. These agencies have the most up-to-date and accurate information available. Citizens can search for offenders, see a map of offenders near them, or directly submit a tip to law enforcement about an offender.
• Search for Offenders In Alabama: Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
• Search for Offenders in Louisiana: Louisiana State Police
• Search for Offenders in Ohio: Ohio Attorney General’s Office
• Sign Up to Receive Email Alerts When Offenders Move Into Your Neighborhood – Sign up to receive notifications from law enforcement when a registered sex offender moves into your neighborhood, near your work or other address. Get Email Alerts from Law Enforcement
• Show Your Child Photos of Sex Offenders In Your Neighborhood – If you have young children, consider showing them a photo of registered sex offenders in your neighborhood and talking to them about the dangers of abuse.
• Have a Conversation With Your Child – Talk to your child about threats from criminals. Avoid scary details. Speak in general terms using the using language that is honest and age appropriate. If your child could possibly have contact with a registered sex offender, show your child the sex offender's photo. Be calm and instruct your child to avoid contact with the person or being near the offender's residence or workplace. More info: Talking to Children About Sex Offenders

OffenderWatch was featured in the media when we presented a local Tulsa sergeant with our national award for excellence in sex offender registry management. Out of 15,000 law enforcement members across the country using OffenderWatch, we selected Sgt. Randy Chapman to receive an award for outstanding public safety.Watch the full story at KTUL-TV.

by Erin Christy, KTUL staff

Thursday, June 27th 2019

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — “I’d like to thank the media for being here today”

It sounded like the start of a regularly scheduled news conference, just like many Sergeant Randy Chapman had attended many times.But after Sheriff Vic Regalado started talking about recognizing one of their deputies, and continued on about the sex offender registry, Chapman quickly realized he was attending a surprise conference in his honor.“When they mentioned my name, I thought it was a joke,” said Chapman. “I thought they were pulling a gag on me.”Chapman received national recognition for excellence in overseeing the sex offender registry for the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office.

The software company, “OffenderWatch,” gave the award.

Sheriff Regalado says Chapman revamped their system, and because Chapman entered more data than required, it helped them solve other criminal cases.“He has implemented policy that goes above and beyond what’s required by law,” said Regalado.To Sergeant Chapman, he says, he was just doing his job like everyone else.OffenderWatch is the largest sex offender registry in the United States and works with more than 3,000 law enforcement agencies. This particular award is given to one person a year.If you’d like to receive free notifications when a registered sex offender moves into your neighborhood, sign up here.

Jefferson County Sheriffs Office offenderwatch news[/caption]

By John Huddleston | June 13, 2019 at 10:14 PM CDT - Updated June 13 at 10:14 PM

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - It’s a tool that you can access anytime, anywhere. It’s called OffenderWatch. It’s a national network software program used by over 3,000 law enforcement agencies that shows you where sex offenders are located.

"Notify the public of where they are living, where they are working, and it’s a great tool for us to get the message out to the communities,” said Captain David Agee, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

You can access OffenderWatch through the Sheriff’s office website.

Once there, you can input your address and it will show you where any sex offenders are living within your neighborhood.

“People want information quick and fast and it gets there. It works for us,” said Agee.

Another tool is the ability to sign up for email alerts about when sex offenders move nearby.

The Sheriff’s office was recently recognized by OffenderWatch as one of the best in the nation for community awareness and for sending out over 375,000 emails to the community.

Watch the story at WBRC.com.

KANSAS CITY (Associated Press) — Missouri is the 20th state to join a nationwide sex offender registry. 

OffenderWatch said in a news release this week that every Missouri law enforcement agency that manages or investigates registered sex offenders will be able to collaborate on offender records, aid each other in investigations and share notifications with the public. It won a five-year contract from the Missouri Highway Patrol. 

Missouri has about 16,000 registered sex offenders. 

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children says there are more than 900,000 registered sex offenders in the United States. 

OffenderWatch says its service allows different law enforcement agencies to collaborate on a single offender record, improving accuracy and aiding in public safety. Its technology is used by more than 3,000 law enforcement agencies in 37 states. Read the story from the Associated Press on the Missourian.

Agencies join forces to share investigative information, send public notifications on registered sex offenders

ROCKWALL COUNTY, Texas (May 20, 2019)—Six law enforcement agencies in Rockwall County have all joined a sex offender registry network called OffenderWatch, the nation’s leading sex offender registry management and community notification technology solution. With more than 900,000 registered sex offenders in the United States, and about 155 registered sex offenders living in Rockwall County, law enforcement now has access to the OffenderWatch network of sex offender registries to better manage registered sex offenders, share information for investigations, and easily communicate with agencies around the country. The Rockwall Sheriff’s Office, Rockwall Police Department, Heath Dept. of Public Safety, Royce Police Department, Rowlett Police Department, and Fate City Dept. of Public Safety have all selected the same technology to collaboratively manage, track and investigate registered sex offenders.“It is my opinion that this is another example of the law enforcement agencies in Rockwall County working together in the implementation of a program that will benefit the citizens of Rockwall County from a public safety perspective,” said Rockwall County Sheriff Harold Eavenson.Through the partnership, the Rockwall agencies and OffenderWatch share online resources to educate and inform the public on ways to keep neighborhoods safe. One purpose of the sex offender monitoring and notification program is to provide Rockwall residents with real-time website updates when an offender registers in the jurisdiction and proactive email alerts if the registered offender moves within a specified radius of their address. The service is available at no cost to the public with confidential and unlimited address registrations—home, school, work, gym, day care, park, or any address of interest.

• Sign up for emails when sex offenders move into your neighborhood from the Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office here:Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office: http://www.communitynotification.com/cap_main.php?office=56603

“Joining the OffenderWatch national network of sex offender registries benefits not only residents of Rockwall County, but also bordering cities, counties and states because law enforcement can share critical investigative information on registered offenders,” said Mike Cormaci, president and co-founder of OffenderWatch. “We look forward to a long-term partnership in public safety for this top agency and growing our presence in Texas.”

Agency joins Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office on OffenderWatch network, sex offender registry database in ongoing effort to keep public safeSYRACUSE, N.Y. (May 1, 2019)—The Syracuse Police Department recently joined the OffenderWatch Network, the nation’s leading sex offender registry management and community notification technology solution. With more than 900,000 registered sex offenders in the United States, and more than 600 registered sex offenders in Syracuse, the police department now has access to the OffenderWatch network of sex offender registry information to better manage registered sex offenders and communicate with the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office and other surrounding law enforcement agencies. The Syracuse Police Department joins a national effort to remedy communication and data silos currently found across local, state and federal law enforcement agencies when monitoring and alerting on registered sex offenders.“We look forward to our partnership with OffenderWatch. We believe it to be both an effective asset to our operational efforts to enhance public safety, and a valuable resource for communities,” said Deputy Chief Derek McGork.Through the partnership, the police department and OffenderWatch share online resources to educate and inform the public on ways to keep neighborhoods safe. One purpose of the sex offender monitoring and alerting program is to provide Syracuse residents with proactive alerts and real-time updates when an offender registers or moves within a specified radius of their address. The service is available at no cost to the public with confidential and unlimited address registrations—home, school, work, gym, day care, park, or any address of interest.The public can access the FREE OffenderWatch sex offender registry at the following link: • Syracuse: http://sheriffalerts.com/cap_main.php?office=56540 “Expanding the OffenderWatch network of sex offender registry data benefits not only residents of Syracuse, but also bordering cities, counties and states by sharing critical investigative information on registered offenders,” said Mike Cormaci, president and co-founder of OffenderWatch. “We look forward to being a long-term partner in public safety for this top agency and growing our presence in New York.”

Agency launches OffenderWatch website, sex offender registry database in ongoing effort to keep public safe The Medford, Mass. Police Department recently joined the OffenderWatch Network, the nation’s leading sex offender registry management and community notification technology solution. With more than 900,000 registered sex offenders in the United States, the police department now has access to the OffenderWatch network of sex offender registry information to better manage registered sex offenders and communicate with other law enforcement agencies. The Medford Police Department joins a national effort to remedy communication and data silos currently found across local, state and federal law enforcement agencies when monitoring and alerting on registered sex offenders.Through the partnership, the police department and OffenderWatch share online resources to educate and inform the public on ways to keep neighborhoods safe. One purpose of the sex offender monitoring and alerting program is to provide Medford residents with proactive alerts and real-time updates when an offender registers or moves within a specified radius of their address. The service is available at no cost to the public with confidential and unlimited address registrations—home, school, work, gym, day care, park, or any address of interest.

• The public can access the FREE OffenderWatch sex offender registry at the following link: Medford Police Department: http://sheriffalerts.com/cap_main.php?office=56594

“Expanding the OffenderWatch network of sex offender registry data benefits not only residents of Medford, but also bordering cities, counties and states by sharing critical investigative information on registered offenders,” said Mike Cormaci, president and co-founder of OffenderWatch. “We look forward to being a long-term partner in public safety for this top agency and growing our presence in Massachusetts.”Read the story on the Medford Patch.

OffenderWatch is featured in the April 2019 issue of Police Chief magazine, published by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, as part of an article on "new products and advances in technology to ensure your officers are equipped with the tools they need." Download the issue here.

OffenderWatch recently announced new hires and promotions. Read the full story on Biz New Orleans.

Tim Basonic was hired as the vice president of IT. Basonic has more than 25 years of executive management, project management, software security, database design, network administration, information architecture, application development, database deployment and management experience in his roles in the private IT sector, as well as in his time in the military. As VP of IT, he coordinates projects from discovery to delivery of current IT solutions, walking in partnership with his clients through risk analysis, requirements gathering, communications, training and maintenance. Having managed more than 100 projects, he is able to implement and manage large, multi-site teams and complete complex project life cycles. Basonic and his wife founded a non-profit girls softball organization geared towards helping to give underprivileged girls who have athletic talent a chance to showcase their skills and abilities to college level recruiters.

Tim Basonic

John Strain was promoted to the director of sales position. Strain has worked with Watch Systems for nearly a decade, starting in business development and working his way up to Director of Sales. He has overseen national sales from local to statewide strategic accounts for OffenderWatch, also helping to research and uncover state and local law enforcement challenges and solutions. Prior to his current role, Strain served as Assistant Branch Rental Manager at Enterprise Rent-A-Car where he received top honors in sales and setting new sales records. He graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in psychology.

John Strain

Lionel Hanley was promoted to the director of marketing position. Hanley has more than 25 years of experience in software product marketing, sales and project management. He joined Watch Systems and OffenderWatch in 2014 as a project manager, ensuring technology projects were on-time and under budget for new state clients. He was promoted to Director of Marketing in 2019, where he oversees all marketing efforts for the company. By working closely with state and internal IT resources, Hanley helps OffenderWatch’s software-as-a-service solutions bring immediate efficiencies and assurance of continued compliance to state customers. He graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in biochemistry.

Lionel Hanley

View the original news article on the Idaho Press website.

CALDWELL — The Canyon County Sheriff’s Office received national recognition in how it tracks registered sex offenders.

The sheriff’s office oversees the county’s 737 sex offenders by using a software management tool, OffenderWatch, which helps aid in investigations.

Of 3,000 agencies throughout 37 states and 13,000 users, Sheriff Kieran Donahue and the sheriff’s office received the National Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Public Service of Sex Offender Registry Management.

“I’m both honored and humbled to receive this national recognition on behalf of the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office,” said Donahue.

The sheriff’s office is responsible for managing, tracking and verifying registered sex offenders in Canyon County and notifying the public of registered sex offenders.

“Sheriff Donahue’s superior work is a model for how other law enforcement agents should manage their sex offender registries—going above and beyond to ensure the public is safe,” said Mike Cormaci, president of OffenderWatch.

The public can sign up to receive free notifications when a registered sex offender moves into their neighborhood or near any address by visiting sheriffalerts.com.

‍Story from KTVH-TV - View full story here.

(HELENA) The Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office and the Helena Police Department are introducing a new tool to track registered sexual and violent offenders.

On Thursday, Sheriff Leo Dutton and HPD Lt. Brett Petty demonstrated the agencies’ new online system, managed through the nationwide company OffenderWatch.

“This demonstrates partnership with the community,” said Dutton. “We care about who’s in our community, and we care about the citizens that live here. That’s what this will show.”

The public can now search online for any sexual or violent offenders living in their neighborhoods. The database includes offenders’ names, addresses, physical descriptions and what they were convicted of. Sexual offenders’ photos are also included. State law does not permit violent offenders’ photos to be added.

Residents can also sign up to receive email notifications when a new offender moves in.

LCSO and HPD previously had their own database of offenders, but it was all made up of paper files. When Lewis and Clark County signed a contract with OffenderWatch last year, it allowed agencies to access that company’s national database.

“What Offender Watch allowed us to do was go digital,” said Petty. “So now there’s a digital database out there. Anyone that’s signed up with OffenderWatch can look in there and see who we have.”

HPD records clerk Dana Dopp was responsible for digitizing almost 500 offenders’ files.

OffenderWatch partners with more than 3,500 law enforcement agencies in 37 states. Dutton said joining their system will help local law enforcement monitor offenders moving in from other areas. It will make it easier for other agencies to alert LCSO or HPD if an offender leaves an area and they believe the person is coming to Lewis and Clark County.

“Before, there were many times that did not happen, so we had sexual and violent offenders living here that weren’t necessarily honest and we never knew anything about,” Dutton said. “This will cut down on that substantially.”

The system will also allow officers in the field to get up-to-date information, including photos, on their smartphones or other devices. That can be especially helpful when they are conducting compliance checks on an offender.

“It’s worth it,” said Dutton. “It’s worth it to have the ability – the citizens to be able to check, and deputies and officers to be able to have current information, real-time, and pictures when they go out to look at someone.”

You can find links to the OffenderWatch system on the LCSO website and the HPD website.

HELENA, Mont. (Feb. 28, 2019) – The Lewis & Clark County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) is the first law enforcement agency in Montana to adopt OffenderWatch, the nation’s leading sex offender registry network. With more than 900,000 registered sex offenders in the United States, and more than 2,700 registered sex offenders in Montana, LCSO and the Helena Police Department now have access to the OffenderWatch Network to help better manage registered sex offenders, communicate with other law enforcement agencies, and notify the public.

“OffenderWatch will help us and the Helena Police Department improve our investigations, improve our sex offender management systems, and provide real-time notifications to the public,” said Sheriff Leo Dutton of the LCSO. “We’re excited to be the first agency in Montana to adopt the ground-breaking OffenderWatch technology.”

Through the partnership, online resources are available to educate and inform the public on ways to keep neighborhoods safe. One purpose of the sex offender monitoring and alerting program is to provide Lewis & Clark county citizens with proactive alerts and real-time updates when an offender registers or moves within a specified radius of their address. The service is available at no cost to the public with confidential and unlimited address registrations—home, school, work, gym, day care, park, or any address of interest.

The public can access the FREE OffenderWatch sex offender registry at the following link:
• Lewis & Clark County: http://sheriffalerts.com/cap_main.php?office=56579

OffenderWatch was featured in Government Technology magazine in their article, "Police Hope Software Can Help Avoid 'Losing' Sex Offenders." OffenderWatch helps improve investigations by increasing agency efficiency through the use of one offender record, updated in real time.

Read the story.

OffenderWatch was featured in The Advocate and St. Tammany Farmer newspapers. Read the full article.

BY TARA MCLELLAN | Special to The Farmer

A local company has been aiding law enforcement for nearly 20 years, providing critical information on sex offenders to more than 3,000 agencies nationwide.

With a new app called Safe Virtual Neighborhood set to launch in late February, WatchSystems, which is located in Covington, is moving forward in a way that also may change how families approach personal and online safety.

The app will help parents keep a close eye on their kids’ devices, said Mike Cormaci, co-founder of WatchSystems, who has five kids of his own.

All registered sex offenders are required to provide updated cellphone information, which the Safe Virtual Neighborhood app will store. Parents can upload the application to their kids’ phones, and if a sex offender communicates with them via text, Snapchat, email or phone call, parents will get an alert on their own device.

Cormaci designed the technology to track sex offenders in 2002. The idea came him as a light-bulb moment while on the job.

“My partner Lou Luzynski and I worked together (previously) at Fuel Man, the nation’s largest fleet fueling card company,” he said. “Our cards tracked the fuel that was used, how much, and where. I got started thinking, what if law enforcement could use our mapping technology to help them track crime.

"I started talking to a member of the California Sheriff’s Association during my travels, and he said, ‘I don’t need help tracking crime, but I do need help tracking sex offenders.’”

With the seed planted, Cormaci brought the idea to Luzynski and his company.

“Back in Covington, I put this idea out there, and soon got called into the principal’s office: (They said,) ‘You want to do what?’ Two to three years later, Lou retired and suggested I retire, too, and we start our own company with my idea. That's how we got started," he said.

The company has 40 employees at its Covington headquarters, he added.

Read the full article on The New Orleans Advocate.

Read the full article at Police Chief magazine from their January 2019 issue.