Emporia, KS, USA / KVOE

Chuck Samples

Halloween is approaching soon, and Lyon County Sheriff Jeff Cope is urging parents to sign up for OffenderWatch and related information about registered offenders.

The Sheriff’s Office has used OffenderWatch for years to keep tabs on over 100 registered offenders living and/or working in Lyon County.

Residents can use online mapping and address-search items to find registered offenders — key at this time of year with trick-or-treat routes getting set and no state law in Kansas telling offenders thay cannot take part in trick-or-treating activities. Residents can also get automated alerts when registered offenders move to an area near a selected address.

Click here for the link. Residents can also call the Sheriff’s Office at 620-341-3205 with questions.

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Covington, LA — August 17, 2026 — OffenderWatch®, the nation's leading sex offender registry management and community notification platform, today announced the appointment of Matt Walker as Chief Executive Officer. 

Walker brings more than 30 years of experience as a strategic and operational executive with a track record of scaling SaaS and services-driven organizations. He joins OffenderWatch® most recently from Civix, a provider of government technology solutions, where he served as Chief Operating Officer overseeing customer-facing operations and driving growth across the company's public-sector software platforms. Over his career, Walker has built a reputation for operational rigor, process optimization, and go-to-market strategy, with deep expertise spanning product management and customer success in mission-driven organizations.

Walker will guide OffenderWatch®’s strategy and growth, helping law enforcement agencies nationwide efficiently monitor offenders, share records, and receive critical alerts. 

"I'm honored to lead OffenderWatch® at such an important time for the organization and the agencies we serve," said Matt Walker, incoming CEO of OffenderWatch®. "For more than 25 years, OffenderWatch® has earned the confidence of law enforcement across the country by delivering reliable, configurable solutions built around agencies' real-world needs. I look forward to working alongside Ben and the entire team to build on that foundation and continue strengthening public safety nationwide."

Walker succeeds Ben Luzynski, who will transition to the role of Chief Product Officer, where he will focus on advancing the technology that powers OffenderWatch®'s network for law enforcement agencies and the communities they protect.

"The strength of OffenderWatch® has always rested on the trust of the law enforcement agencies and communities we serve, and that trust will only deepen under Matt's leadership," said Ben Luzynski, Chief Product Officer of OffenderWatch®. "I am proud to support him as CEO and to focus my own energy, as Chief Product Officer, on the technology that keeps our network at the forefront of offender management and community notification. Our leadership is united, our mission is unchanged, and our commitment to the public safety community is as strong as ever."

Walker's appointment comes as OffenderWatch® continues to expand its national registry network and prepares to welcome agency partners to the OffenderWatch Symposium 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana, this November.

About OffenderWatch

OffenderWatch® provides law enforcement agencies and public officials with the tools they need to manage local, state, and federal sex offender registry processes effectively. Backed by more than 25 years of experience and built in collaboration with law enforcement, OffenderWatch® is the most configurable sex offender registry monitoring platform available, helping agencies improve efficiency, maintain compliance, and protect their communities. Learn more at www.offenderwatch.com.

Greg Haas

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A nationwide crackdown on sex offenders resulted in the arrests of 330 fugitives wanted for failure to register as a sex offender, sex assault, or other sex offenses.

In Nevada, 16 fugitives wanted on sex assault and other sex offense charges were arrested, and the U.S. Marshals Service highlighted five who were apprehended in Las Vegas.

It was part of Operation Adam's Watch, named in honor of Adam Walsh, and was conducted to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the signing of the Adam Walsh Act (AWA). The operation focused on identifying, locating, and apprehending non-compliant sex offenders, and assisting our state and local partners with verifying offenders' compliance.

U.S. Marshal Gary Schofield said, "Every arrest represents a child or family who deserves safety and justice."

• Antwon Maddox was arrested in Las Vegas on July 20. He was wanted by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for lewdness with a child 14 or 15 (3 counts).

• Paul Provenzano was arrested in Las Vegas on July 21. He was wanted by Metro police for possession of visual presentation depicting sexual conduct of a child.

• Alan Vincent was arrested in Las Vegas on July 21. He was wanted by Metro police for lewdness with a child less than 14 (2 counts).

• Dagoberto Miranda was arrested in Las Vegas on July 23. He was wanted by Metro police for sexual assault against a child under 14 (2 counts) and lewdness with a child under 14 (3 counts).

• Tyler Bloom was arrested in Las Vegas on July 23. He was wanted by Nevada Parole and Probation for violating his probation with an underlying charge of attempt to lure children or mentally ill persons with the use of technology.

The public has access to OffenderWatch®, a website and mobile app that provides access to the addresses of registered sex offenders in the area. Click here to visit the website.

"We are the best in the world at finding people," U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces Serralta said. "We have the tools and the talent no one else has. When the Adam Walsh Act became law, it made sense for us, along with our partners, to make sure noncompliant sex offenders are back off the streets and not a threat to those who could become victims."

Operation Adam's Watch, conducted over a multi-week period concluding on July 24, 2026, the District of Nevada, Nevada Violent Offender Task Force, joined thirty-six additional Federal judicial districts throughout the states of Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.

Adam Walsh's abduction and murder served as a catalyst for change in the way the nation deals with crimes against children. This tragedy launched his parents, John and Reve Walsh, on a lifelong mission to prevent similar attacks on other children. Their efforts resulted in the establishment of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

"As we observe Adam Walsh Remembrance Day and the 20th anniversary of the Adam Walsh Act, I'm reminded that my brother's legacy isn't defined by what happened to him, but by the lives that continue to be protected because people refused to let his story end in tragedy," said Callahan Walsh, Executive Director of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. "Every time the U.S. Marshals Service apprehends an offender who threatens children, every time NCMEC helps law enforcement recover a missing child or support an investigation, we're carrying that legacy forward. Together, we're proving that the strongest tool we have to protect children is partnership."

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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By April Lovette

Hempstead County Deputies Can Now Easily Share Data and Collaborate on Investigations; Citizens Gain Access to Free Email Alerts

Hope, AR. July 27, 2026 the Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office announced today that it has joined the nationwide OffenderWatch sex offender registry network, which enables interagency collaboration on investigations and sharing of critical information involving registered sex offenders with other local law enforcement agencies across the country. In addition, residents of Hempstead County can use the Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office website to search for sex offenders residing in their neighborhood and subscribe to receive email alerts from the http://www.sheriffalerts.com/ar/Hempstead

OffenderWatch is the nation's leading sex offender registration solution, with over 15,000 unique users in 33 states. More than 3,500 local and state law enforcement agencies are utilizing the software to keep track of registered offenders across jurisdictions, collaborate on interagency operations, and automatically notify the community through the Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office website and email alerts.

“Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to join the coast-to-coast OffenderWatch network in order to better share information, coordinate investigations, and collaborate on sex offenders,” said Sheriff James A. Singleton “When a registered offender moves from outside the county, deputies save countless hours researching and re-entering data because the offender record is seamlessly shared from one agency to the other. OffenderWatch builds a history of the data we have on file, and this facilitates registry staff, investigators and others working together. So, our deputies can be more proactive in offender management and keeping the community aware.”

There are over 900,000 registered sex offenders in the United States, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. However, agencies often use disparate systems for managing sex offenders. OffenderWatch allows different law enforcement agencies to collaborate on a single offender record, improving accuracy and aiding in public safety.

“We believe data shared between law enforcement agencies leads to better investigations and safer cities and counties,” said Mike Cormaci, president, and co-founder of OffenderWatch. “With the Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office joining our network, OffenderWatch now has most of the nation's children covered by our reach—hopefully leading to fewer victims.”

OffenderWatch allows the sheriff’s office to better collaborate on investigations with the U.S. Marshals, Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) teams and other investigators. Further, the citizens of Hempstead County can now access a dedicated OffenderWatch page that enables them to search for nearby offenders and receive real-time email alerts regarding relocation of sex offenders within their community.

Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office is also now offering the free OffenderWatch App for download on both Android and iPhone smartphone devices. After installing the app, citizens will be able to see registered sex offenders located near them or their family members. They will also receive free alerts when a registered sex offender moves into their neighborhood. The app also offers online safety information and tips for how to talk to children about sex offenders.

To learn more about OffenderWatch and sign up for email alerts on offenders, visit http://www.offenderwatch.com.

Batesville, Mississippi — The Panola County Sheriff’s Office announced March 27, 2026, that it has joined the nationwide OffenderWatch sex offender registry network, the office said. The sheriff’s office said the move will allow deputies to share data and collaborate on investigations with other law enforcement agencies across the country.Crime & Justice

“Panola County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to join the coast-to-coast OffenderWatch network in order to better share information, coordinate investigations, and collaborate on sex offenders,” Sheriff Shane Phelps said. He said deputies save hours researching and re-entering data because offender records are shared between agencies.

OffenderWatch said it serves more than 15,000 unique users in 33 states and is used by more than 3,500 local and state law enforcement agencies. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children estimates there are more than 900,000 registered sex offenders in the United States, the sheriff’s office noted.

Residents can search for offenders and subscribe to free email alerts on the Panola County Sheriff’s Office website at http://www.sheriffalerts.com/ms/Panola, the sheriff’s office said. OffenderWatch also offers a free app for Android and iPhone that the company said lets users see registered sex offenders near them and receive real-time alerts.

“We believe data shared between law enforcement agencies leads to better investigations and safer cities and counties,” Mike Cormaci, president and co-founder of OffenderWatch, said. OffenderWatch said it was founded in 2000 in Covington, Louisiana, and has partnered with multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and launched its mobile app in 2019.

Progress Edition

February 25, 2026

‍By Chandler Harmon, Staff Writer

The Giles County Sheriff’s Department is working with inmates to give them a better chance of reintegrating into the community.

The department has partnered with Ozone Environmental Services (OES) to provide inmates with basic hazmat, cleanup training and other skills while incarcerated, Sheriff Joe Purvis said, adding the program teaches participants how to properly handle and clean hazardous material spills, including fuel and other dangerous substances commonly involved in vehicle crashes and industrial incidents.

Participants who successfully complete the course receive state certification, the sheriff said, giving them a desired skill set upon release. The company providing the training has already hired some graduates and has committed to helping others find employment, he noted.

Launched in 2025 in partnership with Tennessee Workforce Group, the initiative began when program leaders approached jail administration about providing OSHA-regulated hazmat training to incarcerated individuals, OES Regional Manager Matt Church said, adding Giles is the first department to allow the program to operate inside its facility.

“This is more than just hazmat,” Church said. “It’s about life-making skills, accountability and giving people who made bad decisions a real second chance.”

Participants complete a 40-hour OSHA certification course that qualifies them for hazardous materials work nationwide. The certification is not limited to one company, meaning graduates can seek employment across the country, Church added. The current class, made up entirely of women, marks a significant milestone.

Hazmat and environmental response work is traditionally male-dominated, particularly in the private sector. Organizers say it is rare to see women performing day-to-day site work and emergency response, Church said.

Accomplishments

One of the department’s key accomplishments has been its focus toward stronger community involvement, Purvis said. Deputies have increased outreach efforts through Kid’s Place Child Advocacy Center and partnerships with local organizations, he noted, adding the department has also continued expanding jail programs aimed at addiction recovery and rehabilitation.

‍Goals

A major goal for the upcoming year is implementing OffenderWatch software, a nationwide database system designed to better monitor and manage registered sex offenders, Purvis shared.

“What it allows us to do is manage the roughly 46 sex offenders that live out in the county,” he explained. “So we can manage their movements, manage their compliance checks. It’s also an investigative tool.”

Purvis is planning to meet with neighboring counties to explore regional collaboration using the same system to share information.

“When a registered offender moves into the county from another jurisdiction, our deputies save countless hours researching and re-entering data because the offender record is seamlessly shared between agencies,” Purvis said. “OffenderWatch maintains a historical record of offender information, which supports our registry staff, investigators and deputies in working together more effectively. This allows our team to be more proactive in managing offenders and keeping our community informed and protected.”

By joining the program, GCSD gained access to a national information-sharing platform used by thousands of law enforcement agencies across the country. The system provides real-time communication, improved tracking of offender movement and enhanced coordination between jurisdictions, helping agencies maintain accurate records and respond more quickly to changes in offender status, according to Purvis.

The OffenderWatch public website also provides community members with the ability to search for registered sex offenders in their area, submit tips directly to law enforcement and access important safety resources. Purvis added that the platform includes public safety and awareness information designed to help families better recognize potential risks and take proactive steps to protect themselves and their communities.

Another goal he highlighted is expanding a partnership with the FBI through the Safe Streets Task Force. Assigning a deputy to the federal task force would allow access to federal resources and to potentially pursue federal charges for repeat offenders, which carry stronger sentencing options.

Additionally, the department is increasing its emphasis on internal training for deputies and corrections officers to improve service quality and reduce liability.

Employees

The Sheriff’s Department currently has 45 deputies (including the sheriff), 31 corrections officers and three civilian employees.

Grants

Purvis highlighted multiple grant opportunities his department has utilized, including state funding to add an additional School Resource Officer (SRO) at the alternative school, Tennessee Highway Safety Office grant funding for DUI enforcement, traffic enforcement, radar units, in-car computers, multiple SRO positions (nine total) funded through grants, a grant-funded position supported by the Ingram Foundation and state cost-sharing grants that help offset the cost of training and equipping new academy graduates.

Improvements

The department is also increasing its focus on structured training across both patrol and corrections divisions. Leadership recently added positions dedicated to strengthening internal training efforts, the sheriff said.

“The better trained the deputies and corrections officers are, the better their ability is to serve the community and serve it right,” he stressed, noting better training directly improves service to the community while also reducing departmental liability.

Calls

Purvis said the Giles County Sheriff’s Office responded to a total of 10,847 calls for service Below is a snapshot of some of the activity and statistics from the year:

• Total arrests: 893 (792 adults, 101 juveniles)

• Drug-related arrests: 128

• Domestic violence–related calls: 177

• Death investigations: 48

• Mental health–related calls: 57

• Overdoses: 7

• Traffic stops: 2,196

• Civil process papers served: 3,151

• Uses of force: 76

• Total bookings into the Giles County Jail: 1,506

Commendations

Purvis is grateful for the committed, devoted group of men and women who staff his department.

“Giles County is fortunate to have a dedicated, professional group of people working at their sheriff’s office

who truly care about the community and its citizens,” he said.

He noted that deputies and corrections officers routinely handle difficult and often unseen situations with professionalism, pride and compassion.

“They work here because they want to serve their community,” Purvis said, adding that he is proud to work alongside them.

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As of January 2026, Washoe County has launched a new OffenderWatch public portal and notification system to help residents monitor registered sex offenders in the Reno area, allowing users to search addresses, view maps, and receive email alerts. The Regional Sex Offender Notification Unit (RSONU) continues to track and arrest non-compliant offenders.

The system aims to enhance public safety by providing accessible information to the community.

Washoe County residents now have access to a tool to help monitor where registered sex offenders live. For more information and a link to the Regional Sex Offender Notification Unit search portal visit 2news.com or our free 2 News Nevada app. #crime #offenderwatch #search #police
https://www.2news.com/news/local/new-offenderwatch-portal-to-check-for-sex-offenders/video_6b708c68-fa43-5a2c-af79-64b7551139d4.html

The Arvada Police Department has become the first in Colorado to implement the OffenderWatch sex offender tracking system and app — and hopes that other departments in the state will follow its lead.

APD announced its participation in the program, which will see the department utilize the sex offender registration and notification tool, along with the company’s Family Safety app, on Jan. 2. OffenderWatch is a Louisiana-based company with 4,000 law enforcement department partners.

APD Public Information Officer Chase Amos explained the benefits of the OffenderWatch system.

“In the simplest terms, OffenderWatch is a sex offender registration tool and community notification system,” Amos said. “Community members will benefit by being able to more easily search for registered sex offenders near their homes and sign up for email alerts regarding newly registered offenders in their area.

“Another huge benefit for residents is the OffenderWatch app,” Amos continued. “Through the app, parents can track a child’s location and be alerted if their kid is near an offender’s house for a significant period of time. The app also sends alerts to parents of any communication from registered sex offenders through call, email or text.”

Prior to the adoption of OffenderWatch, Amos said a sex offender had to manually complete a lengthy form for their initial registration and every time they were required to re-register, which will now become automated with OffenderWatch’s integration.

Registered sex offenders also no longer have to call an APD detective to report life activities, such as getting a new phone number, vehicle or email address, which are required to be reported under state law. Now, sex offenders can make those changes to their OffenderWatch profile online.

Amos said the automation of that, and alerts that OffenderWatch provides APD when a sex offender is arrested or released from custody, will both save detectives time and increase offender compliance.

The program also allows APD to be connected to a multi-state network that includes all of Colorado’s bordering states and encompasses over 900,000 registrants, allowing the department to better collaborate across jurisdictions.

“For us, OffenderWatch allows us to access a nationwide database of over 900,000 registrants, allowing us to better collaborate in investigations across state lines and more easily transfer registration information to and from other jurisdictions when an offender moves from or to Arvada,” Amos said.  

“Additionally, OffenderWatch is an easy-to-use platform that will make us more efficient during the offender registration process,” Amos continued.

Amos said that while APD is the first department in Colorado to adopt OffenderWatch, he hopes other local agencies will follow.

“We are the first agency in Colorado to implement OffenderWatch, but it is used in all of our bordering states so we think/hope we’ll see other Colorado agencies pick it up too,” Amos said.

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The Arvada Police Station building Credit: Dolly DeHerrera

OffenderWatch has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2021 honor by New Orleans Top Workplaces, two years running. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC. The anonymous survey uniquely measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization: including alignment, execution, and connection, just to name a few.OffenderWatch was founded 21 years ago in Covington with a small office of four individuals and has grown into a company with nearly 50 employees.“I am very proud and thrilled that our company received this award,” said Ben Luzynski, OffenderWatch CEO. “The management team constantly collaborates on ways to improve our work environment, but the most valuable feedback comes from our employees. To ensure the success of our 14,000 users and thousands of agencies across our national U.S. network, Canada and the Caribbean, we have to maintain a high level of service. Our team is passionate about our mission and works hard to help law enforcement prevent the unthinkable.”"During this very challenging time, Top Workplaces has proven to be a beacon of light for organizations, as well as a sign of resiliency and strong business performance," said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. "When you give your employees a voice, you come together to navigate challenges and shape your path forward. Top Workplaces draw on real-time insights into what works best for their organization, so they can make informed decisions that have a positive impact on their people and their business."

ARIMA, Trinidad and Tobago (Sept. 15, 2020)—OffenderWatch, the leading sex offender registry management solution, and the Caribbean Committee Against Sex Crimes (CCASC), an initiative of nonprofit Zandoli USA, today announced a joint mission to implement sex offender registries across the 15 nations of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The sex offender registries would help fight the global crisis of sex crimes—many against children. Law enforcement worldwide would benefit from sex offender registries in CARICOM nations as it would assist in international investigations and hopefully prevent future sex crimes. OffenderWatch and Zandoli USA signed a Memorandum of Understanding that seeks to track sex offenders throughout the Caribbean and eventually across the world.CCASC works with non-profit and governmental agencies across CARICOM. All 15 CARICOM nations are at varying stages of implementing sex offender registration with Jamaica, Belize, and Trinidad and Tobago already having laws on the books.The partners envision legislative change to implement a global sex offender registration system linking law enforcement agencies worldwide through a common database application. The objective will be to reduce child sex trafficking globally by facilitating international cooperation to track registered sex offenders as they move or travel from one country to another.Nearly 18.5 million people live in the CARICOM states. Sex Crime is endemic in the Caribbean region, which has been recognized by the United Nations as one of the regions with the highest rates of sex crime globally.The Memorandum of Understanding was signed this year by OffenderWatch President Mike Cormaci, Zandoli USA’s founder, Camille St. Omer and the Chairman of the Caribbean Committee against Sex Crimes, Jonathan Bhagan. CCAC was founded by Camille St. Omer, also vice chair, and includes Gina Maharaj Attorney at Law as vice chair.The first step of the proposed project is to approach the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to initiate a pilot project establishing the country’s first operational Sex Offender Registry using technology provided by OffenderWatch.Trinidad and Tobago became the smallest country in the world to pass a public sex offender’s registry law on September 13, 2019. Judges will have the discretion to choose which offenders undergo public registration.The partnership between OffenderWatch and Zandoli USA, named “Operation Global Sex Offender’s Registry,” was inspired by the Angel Watch Center which monitors sex offenders attempting to enter or exit the United States. The Angel Watch Center was created by the passage of International Megan’s Law (IML) in the United States.Operation Global Sex Offender’s Registry is designed to enhance the effectiveness of the US International Megan’s Law to End Child Sex Trafficking (HR 515) by implementing similar policies and software in partner countries.It is expected that law enforcement worldwide will benefit in many ways from a global sex offender registration network. There is huge potential for big data, predictive policing and AI algorithms to find new ways to prevent sex crime. The primary reason behind offenders entering a country and not registering is because the country of origin lacked an ability to notify a new country of the offender’s intention to move. The new program by OffenderWatch instantly executes a notification upon entering the address of where an offender intends to travel or relocate to.On September 28, 2019 a New York Times investigative report showed there is more child pornography being detected on the internet than ever before in history. OffenderWatch and Zandoli USA believe that Operation Global Sex Offender’s Registry is part of the solution to the epidemic of child abuse imagery. Much of this imagery is produced by child sex offenders who travel abroad for the purpose of accessing vulnerable children.As part of the Memorandum of Understanding, a research paper will be produced to show the effectiveness of OffenderWatch’s software in deterring sex crimes. Special focus will be given to the International Megan’s Law to end Child Sex Trafficking, as well as the Angel Watch Center on how these measures have provided deterrence to sex offenders crossing borders.Some countries in the Caribbean do not have rape crisis shelters or proper mechanisms in place to help survivors of sexual assault report the crimes to the police and recover. Once sufficient funding is available, Operation Global Sex Offender’s Registry will aid Caribbean charities which assist survivors of sexual assault.“Given the recent economic impact of Covid-19 on the tourism-dependent economies of CARICOM, I hope that international sponsors can fund our efforts to implement cutting-edge software in the Caribbean region. A recent CARICOM study by Dr. Justine Pierre revealed how widespread Human Trafficking is in our region. We will need funding from the United States, European Union and United Kingdom for our work and for other groups fighting against sex crime and Human Trafficking in the Caribbean,” said Jonathan Bhagan, Chairman of the Caribbean Committee Against Sex Crimes.Sponsorship will be sought from governments and corporations willing to contribute towards the goal of preventing child sex trafficking and exploitation. Any government agency or corporation interested in partnering with Operation Global Sex Offender’s Registry is invited to contact globalsexoffenderregistry@gmail.com for more information.OffenderWatch is the nation's leading sex offender registration solution, with over 15,000 users at law enforcement agencies in 50 states using the technology. Local, state and federal agencies use the software to monitor offenders, communicate with other registering agencies, and immediately update the sex offender registry website and notify the community within a radius of the offender’s address. With each edit of the offender record, the OffenderWatch system automatically updates the department's sex offender listings on the department’s website and sends email notifications to the public.“We believe data shared between law enforcement agencies and countries leads to better compliance, more effective investigations and ultimately safer cities and neighborhoods,” said Mike Cormaci, President and co-founder of OffenderWatch. “When all of the countries of the Caribbean join our network, OffenderWatch will have 100% of the homes in the Caribbean covered by our reach. OffenderWatch supports more than just the legal requirements of a sex offender registry. Through improved timeliness, accuracy, and completeness, it supports the intent of the law: improved public safety through awareness—hopefully leading to fewer victims.”There are more than 900,000 registered sex offenders in the United States, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. However, agencies and countries often use disparate systems for managing sex offenders. These systems can falter when offenders move from one agency to another or from one country to another (unconnected) jurisdiction, as it falls to the offender to notify the new agency by showing up at their offices to register. This can be an opportunity for an offender to “fall through the cracks” of the registry. OffenderWatch prevents this by automatically notifying and sharing records with destination agencies within the network. All relevant data from all sources and agencies is maintained in a single offender record, improving accuracy, offender accountability, and aiding in public safety.OffenderWatch will also allow local agencies to easily send real-time alerts to the public when a registered sex offender moves into their neighborhood. The service is available at no cost to the public, and people can sign up to receive email or mail notifications associated with any address-at home, school, work, gym, day care, a park, or more.As this collaboration with 15 networked countries of the Caribbean improves and streamlines offender management and public awareness, safety in the community is also enhanced, “With the OffenderWatch technologies, CARICOM governments will be able to focus more on protecting the public and less on time-consuming administrative work,” said Camille St. Omer and Jonathan Bhagan of the CCASC.Using OffenderWatch, all the countries of the Caribbean can instantly share records with each other and any other registering agency in the OffenderWatch within the network. Instead of spending hours researching each new offender and locating old court and registration documents, any country can instantly obtain the full historical record of the offender, packed with related documents and images. This information is vital as registry officers can collaborate with other agencies on child abductions and investigations of absconded offenders. OffenderWatch also connects the agency to improve collaboration with other investigators, all enhancing public safety. Additionally, residents of the Caribbean will have access through websites to search the full Caribbean OffenderWatch network for information on offenders to get the information they need to help keep their families safe in their physical as well as online activities.In today’s environment of ubiquitous technology, law enforcement must also focus on online safety. According to Camille and Jonathan of CCASC, “Sexual predators are unfortunately becoming an increased threat online, especially as kids are on the web more at home while sheltering in place. With a Global Sex Offender’s Registry system police in Trinidad can notify law enforcement in the United States if a Sex Offender resident in the USA is soliciting children in Trinidad in person or online. The end result is improved safety.”According to UNICEF an estimated 223 million children, 10 percent of the world's children, have been sexually assaulted; this includes 150 million girls and 73 million boys. Two million children are victims of sex trafficking or pornography.In 2019, there were more than 45 million images of children being sexually abused online, according to an investigation by the New York Times. Plus, tips reporting online child exploitation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children more than doubled from March 2019 to March 2020. Through the OffenderWatch partnership, CCASC will advocate for CARICOM to be the first group of countries to offer OffenderWatch Safe Virtual Neighborhood (SVN), an app coming soon after the countries fully deploy and integrate within the network, that will proactively alert parents to online contact from registered sex offenders. While registered offenders are required to provide their electronic communications identifiers to be included in the sex offender registry database, this information is non-published, so is generally not available to the public. SVN continually monitors and compares users’ online contacts vs. this non-public data (email address, phone numbers, and registered online user ID’s) and alerts subscribers such as parents to contact law enforcement if a match is identified. Additionally, SVN issues an alert for when a users’ static physical location is an address matching that of a sex offender. This breakthrough technology helps keep kids safe by alerting parents of attempts by an offender in the network to electronically communicate with or lure a child.The partnership of CCASC and the OffenderWatch network of agencies streamlines the Sex Offender Registry process, improves community awareness, and supports the efforts of the countries of the Caribbean to continuously improve public safety. To learn more about OffenderWatch and sign up for email alerts on offenders, visit www.offenderwatch.com.

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ABOUT OFFENDERWATCHThere are nearly 900,000 registered sex offenders in the United States. Many states have different systems for tracking these offenders, making it difficult for agencies to update records when offenders cross state lines. OffenderWatch works with law enforcement agencies to provide registry software and tools to easily communicate information to the public. Founded in 2000 in Covington, La. under the Watch Systems company, OffenderWatch provides a variety services to sheriffs’ offices, police departments, Attorney Generals’ offices, U.S. Marshal judicial districts, U.S. attorneys, federal and state probation and parole agents, department of corrections, Indian tribes, and more. In 2018, OffenderWatch partnered with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Canada to manage the Canadian National Sex Offender Registry. In 2019, OffenderWatch launched a new, groundbreaking technology, OffenderWatch Safe Virtual Neighborhood. The mobile app identifies online contact from registered sex offenders through a child’s smartphone device, instantly alerting parents to the communication. Learn more at OffenderWatch.com.ABOUT CARIBBEAN COMMITTEE AGAINST SEX CRIMES & ZANDOLI USAThe Caribbean Committee Against Sex Crimes is an Initiative of Zandoli USA. It has advocated regionally for Sex Offender Registration and for all Caribbean governments to ensure that survivors of sex crimes are offered the support and rehabilitation that they need. The Caribbean Committee Against Sex Crimes is led by Chairman, Jonathan Bhagan and Vice-Chairperson, Gina Maharaj.

Houston PD Can Now Easily Share Data, Collaborate on Investigations with Harris County Sheriff’s Office & Other States

COVINGTON, La. (Sept. 2, 2020)—The Houston Police Department is the 34th major city in the U.S. to join the nationwide OffenderWatch sex offender registry network, adding more than 6,000 sex offender records to the database. By partnering with OffenderWatch, Houston PD will now be able to easily collaborate on investigations and share critical information involving registered sex offenders with not only the Harris County Sheriff's Office, but also with more than 3,000 other local law enforcement agencies across the country. Houston PD monitors more than 6,000 registered sex offenders.“When a registered offender moves from outside the city of Houston in Harris County to a city of Houston address, now registering officers won't have to spend time reentering data-because the offender record is seamlessly shared from one agency to another. All records in OffenderWatch transfer instantly to the new jurisdiction, saving us time and improving data accuracy,” said Chief of Police Art Acevedo. “With thousands of sex offenders moving in and out of the city and state every year, the new technology can save us time and improve our investigations by searching other agencies files.”**Houston residents can search for sex offenders or sign up for email alerts on the Houston PD website: https://www.houstontx.gov/police/sex_offender_databases/index.htm**OffenderWatch is the nation's leading sex offender registration solution, with law enforcement agencies in 37 states using the technology and over 15,000 users. Local and state agencies use the software to monitor offenders, communicate with other agency personnel and execute instant community notifications based on a radial address.It is estimated that by using OffenderWatch, the Houston PD can save more than 2,000 officer hours by instantly sharing records with Harris County and other registering agencies in the metro area. Houston PD will be able to collaborate in real time with other agencies on investigations and offender record details. The system will also automatically update the department's sex offender listings on the website and send email notifications to the public. OffenderWatch also allows the agency to better collaborate on investigations with the U.S. Marshals, Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) teams and other investigators.“We believe data shared between law enforcement agencies leads to better investigations and safer cities and counties,” said Mike Cormaci, president and co-founder of OffenderWatch. “With Houston joining our network, OffenderWatch now has more than 50 percent of the nation's children covered by our reach—hopefully leading to fewer victims.”There are more than 900,000 registered sex offenders in the United States, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. However, agencies often use disparate systems for managing sex offenders. OffenderWatch allows different law enforcement agencies to collaborate on a single offender record, improving accuracy and aiding in public safety.OffenderWatch will also allow local agencies to easily send real-time alerts to the public when a registered sex offender moves into their neighborhood. The service is available at no cost to the public, and people can sign up to receive email or mail notifications associated with any address-at home, school, work, gym, day care, a park, or more.

New Orleans, June 28, 2020. The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate has identified 70 private, public, nonprofit and government entities as the top workplaces in the New Orleans area for 2020.The workplaces rose to the top in the newspaper’s annual Top Workplaces in New Orleans competition. The rankings of the companies will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held later this year.Through a partnership with the Philadelphia-based employee research and consulting firm Energage, employee surveys were conducted to assess outstanding workplaces. Any organization in the seven-parish metro area with 35 or more employees was eligible to compete.“During this challenging time, we are excited to highlight standout job providers,” said Sara Barnard, The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate’s senior vice president of sales and marketing. “This will be the sixth year New Orleans has observed elite companies in our community that have been named a Top Workplace and we are honored to join in the celebration.”The workplaces will also be recognized in stories in a special newspaper section to be printed and distributed later this year.

There are about 7,000 registered sex offenders living in Maryland, many of whom have been convicted of crimes against children. All law enforcement agencies in the state of Maryland recently implemented a new technical system called OffenderWatch that completely integrates every agency into a network of 15,000 users who oversee 600,000 registered sex offenders. In addition to the network, the software helps each user streamline processes to improve the state’s sex offender registry.By using the OffenderWatch network, Maryland agencies moved away from using separate, stand-alone data systems for managing sex offender information to collaborating with the nation’s leading sex offender registry network of enforcement agencies. Collaboration on a single offender record has been proven to be the single most efficient way of tracking offenders as they move from one jurisdiction to another. As a member of the OffenderWatch network, Maryland agencies have seamless, real-time communication on offender relocations and with access to the nationwide database of sex offender records, improving efficiency, timeliness, and accuracy of the sex offender registry is instantly realized.OffenderWatch is the nation's leading sex offender registration solution, with more than 15,000 users at law enforcement agencies in 50 states using the technology. Local, state and federal agencies use the network to monitor sex offenders, communicate with other registering agencies, immediately update the sex offender registry website, and notify the community within a radius of the offender’s address. With each edit of the offender record, the OffenderWatch system automatically updates the department's sex offender listings on the department’s website and sends email notifications to the public.“We believe it’s critical for law enforcement agencies to share important data for multiple reasons: better compliance, more effective investigations and ultimately safer cities and neighborhoods,” said Mike Cormaci, president and co-founder of OffenderWatch. “OffenderWatch makes sharing that data extremely easy, improving accuracy in the offender records and saving time in investigations when minutes and hours can mean the difference between life and death.”There are more than 900,000 registered sex offenders in the United States, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. However, agencies often use disparate systems for managing sex offenders. These systems can falter when offenders move from one agency to another jurisdiction, as the offender must notify the new agency by showing up at their office to register. This can be an opportunity for an offender to “fall through the cracks” of the registry. OffenderWatch prevents this by automatically notifying and sharing records with destination agencies within the network. All relevant data from sources and agencies is maintained in a single offender record, improving accuracy, offender accountability, and aiding in public safety.OffenderWatch also allows local Maryland agencies to easily send real-time alerts to the public when a registered sex offender moves into their neighborhood. The service is available at no cost to the public, and people can sign up to receive email or mail notifications associated with any address—at home, school, work, gym, daycare, a park, or more.OffenderWatch also helps enhance community safety, as a collaboration with 3,500 networked agencies improves and streamlines offender management and public awareness. Using OffenderWatch, Maryland can instantly share records any other registering agency in the OffenderWatch national network. Instead of spending hours researching each new offender and locating old court and registration documents, Maryland agencies instantly obtain the full historical record of the offender, packed with related documents and images. This information is vital as registry officers can collaborate with other agencies on child abductions and investigations of absconded offenders.OffenderWatch also connects the agency to improve collaboration with the U.S. Marshals, Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) teams and other investigators, all enhancing public safety. Additionally, residents will have access through the DPSCS website to search the full nationwide OffenderWatch network for information on offenders to get the information they need to help keep their families safe in their physical, as well as online.Sign up for free alerts when a registered sex offender moves into your neighborhood on the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services website: http://www.socem.info/.