WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Do Offender Registries Protect the Public?

Do Offender Registries Protect the Public?

Williston, Vermont - June 26, 2009

Vermont and every other state now offer online sex offender registries that include photos and other information about convicted sex offenders.

The effectiveness of the sites as public protection depends on whom you ask. Sheri Englert runs Vermont's registry and says it can be very effective as a tool.

"How well you use that tool is going to dictate how effective it is. If you pay attention to that website, and you're alert and you're on guard and cautious, it can be a very helpful tool," Englert said.

On October 1 the online registry will expand from 400 offenders to 1,600.

Each listing will include more details about the crimes committed.

The new registry will also be searchable by town, so you can learn about the offenders in your community.

And starting next July, the home addresses of the 500 highest risk offenders will be added.

"If the public wants it they should probably get it," Vermont Defender General Matthew Valerio said. "But they shouldn't be deceived into thinking it's something that's going to significantly increase their public safety."

Valerio points out that most sex offenders victimize friends, family and acquaintances, so the registry offers very little public protection.

"For the minority of people who are attacked by strangers or the like, you know, I don't know that a registry resolves that," Valerio said.

Critics of the registry point to the Brooke Bennett case. Her accused killer-- her uncle Michael Jacques-- was a convicted sex offender on the registry, yet he was permitted to spend time with her alone.

We asked the sex offender registry to provide us with the number of hits they'd had in the site. They said it wasn't readily available but they are working on it.

So we spoke with parents like Katrina McLamb of Burlington-- randomly selected. And nearly all of the people we talked to told us they had used it.

"Helpful knowing that at least somebody is looking at them and it's available online, a little bit concerning because there is not a lot of information on it," McLamb said.

"Just having a little one of my own it's kind of scary to think that it could be your next-door neighbor or whoever," said Karen Blanchard of South Burlington. "I definitely would use it!"

Using a tool intended to protect the public-- hoping it will help.

Brian Joyce - WCAX News