SAN DIEGO–North County Supervisor Bill Horn’s recommendation to explore implementing a sex offender e-mail alert service and maintain a San Diego County sex offender pin map received unanimous approval from the Board today.
“We’ve taken a major step to increase community awareness of dangerous sexual offenders who move into neighborhoods,” said Horn. “Once we work out the details, an e-mail alert system will let County residents know of registered sex offenders living in their neighborhood, especially those who have just recently moved into an area. It is important to ensure that residents receive up-to-date information without having to check sexual registrants pin maps on a weekly basis.”
Several months ago, Supervisor Horn met with constituents who were concerned about the safety of their children, specifically the danger of sexual predators who might have moved into their neighborhood. They found the current state attorney general’s online map system not user friendly and out of date. Supervisor Horn agreed with them and promised action.
“Not long after I met with those parents,” Horn said, “our community was crushed with the heartbreaking news about the deaths of Chelsea King and Amber Dubois, murdered by a sex offender who had been overlooked by a system that was supposed to keep track of him. That’s why I recommended today’s action.”
Once the system is in place, an interested person can sign up and receive an e-mail when an offender either moves into the subscriber’s neighborhood or is added to the sex offender’s registry. The e-mail will contain the offender’s name, address, photo, and information about them, including their crime, and conviction date. Currently the County has a similar e-mail alert system for land use and planning items, public works projects, and Board agendas.
At today’s meeting, Steve Danon, Chief of Staff for Congressman Brian Bilbray, addressed the Board and gave the Congressman’s support for the agenda item and promised to look into possible funding from state and federal sources.
“I appreciate the support from Representative Bilbray,” said Horn. “The Internet is a favorite place for sexual predators to stalk the innocent. We need to use technology to fight back and keep communities safe.”
