In the years that I have been writing this column, the single most frequent range of topics has been on internet safety. While it has been mentioned repeatedly in my columns that we must protect our computers from malevolent attack from viruses, worms, spyware, and Trojans, as well as ourselves from the “phishing” and “pharming” forms of computerized identity theft, we can also utilize our computers and the internet to help protect our most valuable resource, our children.

In recent columns, I have written about the risks our children may face from pedophiles while using chat rooms, instant messaging, email, and other forms of internet communications. As adults, we can also utilize the internet to protect our children from real threats by becoming aware of the threats to our children in our own neighborhoods.

You may have heard some of the child safety warnings this recent Halloween, when network and local news media suggested that parents check the internet for a local listing or map of registered sex offenders, and to have the children avoid those residences while trick-or-treating. What the media did not adequately disclose was where to find that local information. In most states, as well as in many counties and localities, law enforcement agencies have created websites where that information is available.

While most states have this information readily available on the internet, Texas is a good representative example. In Texas, the Texas Department of Public Safety administers a website at records.txdps.state.tx.us/sosearch where a comprehensive list of registered sex offenders is available. The Texas sex offender database can be searched by name, city, zip code, or a street map can be generated centered on any county or desired address, graphically showing the location of the offenders. Personally, I found the zip code method to be the most convenient, while the map is the most graphic. Once the desired listing is generated, the display shows the convicted sex offenders’ names, street addresses, dates of birth, height, weight, and hair color. Clicking on the icon adjacent to the name will open up detailed information including the risk category, a photo (for most offenders), the description of the sex crime for which they have been convicted, and information on the victim.

For those who prefer to see a detailed local street map, centered on any selected address, the “Mapping Application” button on the bottom right corner of the main page will open another window allowing the user to either enter a street address to center the map on, or the name of a county. Except for sparsely populated counties, I would recommend that a street address be entered. Once an address or county is entered, a map appears with several tools available on a toolbar at the top of the map, which may be used to manipulate the map. Listed under “navigation” is a “hand” or pan tool which after being clicked on to select that tool, can be used to pan or re-center the map where ever clicked next. Clicking first on the “globe” and then the map will center the map at the county level; in most cases this covers such a large geographic area that it is often useless. The “+” and “-“ in the magnifying glass on the toolbar allow the user to zoom in (“+”) or zoom out (“-“), re-centering the map wherever clicked. If zoomed in enough, the name of the sex offender will appear on the map adjacent to a dot showing his location. Clicking on the toolbar icon in the shape of Texas will open a county map of the state, where individual counties can be selected with the “new county” icon, the “slashed blue circle with arrow”.

On the street level maps, the location of registered sex offenders is shown as colored dots. Clicking first on the toolbar “i” or “ident” icon, and then a dot will open the basic information of the offender in the window below the map. The icons listed under “Misc.” are “refresh”, “print”, and “help” (“?”).

For those outside of Texas, or who have an interest in using a sex offender locating and mapping service that covers most of the nation, without having to resort to a search of state or local specific websites, is the service at www.familywatchdog.us.

Family Watchdog, based in Indiana, is a free service which provides street level sex offender mapping combining a Google generated map with the states’ publicly available “Megan’s Law” databases for almost every state. The Family Watchdog mapping service is far more detailed than the mapping service provided by the Texas DPS, in that it color codes the category of offenses, as well as shows both the home and work addresses of the registered offenders. In addition to the street level map, which offers zoom functions at the top of the map, symbols indicating the location of schools and playgrounds are also shown. Being a Google map, there is also an option to show the map graphically, or as an aerial photo. The displayed map is interactive, and clicking on a colored square, indicating the home or work location of the offender, will open a pop-up window with the name, address, photo, and offense of the offender. The map can also be emailed directly from the webpage by clicking on the “Email Map” button, and a tabular listing of offenders illustrated can be shown by clicking on the “Show List” button.

Services such as these websites, whether provided by a governmental entity, or a private service, such as Family Watchdog, may be a valuable resource helping us to protect our most valuable resource, our children.

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