This is the best, and most reliable way to check out your current, or potential neighborhood for registered sex offenders. It is an easy site and very user friendly. I ALWAYS encourage, prompt, beg, my clients to check out their neighborhood. Let's watch out for each other and keep Spokane's children safe!
Have you ever wondered what the "classifications" stand for when talking about registered sex offenders? I have! Here are some definitions I have gathered from local community experts...
When an offender is released from custody and placed back to the community, the Washington State Department of Corrections Community Protection Unit evaluates the offender. They determine the risk classification level for the offender. This evaluation is based on a complex scoring and review process. Community safety is a primary factor in the process. The classification levels basically have the following simple meanings:
Level 1
These offenders present the lowest possible risk to the community and their likelihood to re-offend is considered minimal. They normally have not exhibited predatory type characteristics and most have successfully participated or are participating in approved treatment programs. Many are first time offenders.
Level 2
These offenders present a moderate risk to the community and they have a higher likelihood of re-offending than the Level 1 offenders. They are considered a higher risk to re-offend, because of the nature of their previous crime(s) and lifestyle (drug and alcohol abuse and other criminal activity). Some have refused to participate or failed to complete approved treatment programs.
Level 3
These offenders pose a potential high risk to the community and are a threat to re-offend if provided the opportunity. Most have prior sex crime convictions as well as other criminal convictions. Their lifestyles and choices place them in this classification. Some have predatory characteristics and may seek out victims. Some have refused or failed to complete approved treatment programs.
Laws Related To Registered Sex Offenders can be found in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW). Laws 9A.44.130, and 4.24.550
Give me a call if you have any additional questions, or would like any more links and information! I can be reached at 230-4153.
As an ECE degree holder...I have researched the Washington State Registered Sex Offender Law that began in 1990. This law was later amended to include kidnapping offenders in the registration program (1997). In accordance with the law, the Spokane County Sheriff's Office is required to maintain the registration information for the convicted offenders living in the entire Spokane County area. Local law enforcement agencies in the incorporated areas of Spokane County are responsible for making sure the offenders living in those jurisdictions are residing at the addresses they reported on their registration forms.
The Sex/Kidnapping Offender Registration Law allows the Spokane County Sheriff's Office to register and track convicted offenders. However, the sheriff's office has no legal authority to direct where a sex offender may or may not live. The State Department of Corrections does have limited authority to restrict living choices for offenders who are still on probation or parole for their crime(s). Unless court-ordered restrictions exist, these offenders are constitutionally free to live wherever they choose.
Sex offenders have always lived in our communities; but it wasn't until passage of the Community Protection Act of 1990 (which mandates sex offender registration) that law enforcement even knew where they were living. In many cases, law enforcement is now able to share that information with you. Citizen abuse of this information to threaten, intimidate, or harass registered sex offenders will not be tolerated. Further, such abuse could potentially end law enforcement's ability to do community information dissemination. We believe the only person who wins if community notification ends is the sex offender, since sex offenders derive their power through secrecy. This site is not meant to violate anyone's privacy or livelihood. It is a tool to inform the public and provide information as allowed by state law. Please do not misuse or abuse the information we have provided on this Internet site.
When you enter the search area, you are given the option of two different methods of searching. One will return a report based on the address that you enter. If you enter an address within the city limits of Spokane, only level 3 sex/kidnapping offenders will be displayed. In all other areas of Spokane County this report provides a list of Level 2 and 3 registered sex/kidnapping offenders that have a reportable address in Spokane County, within an approximate half-mile radius of the address information you entered. Also listed is the number of level 1 offenders living in that same area.
No additional information is being provided for level 1 offenders because they are least likely to re-offend and most have successfully participated in a treatment program. Information in these reports for level 2 and 3 offenders will contain the offender's name, age, race, classification level and crime of conviction and or the crime that originally required the subject to become a registered offender.
The second search function is related only to "Level Three" offenders, meaning those that pose the greatest potential harm to our communities. All level 3 offenders that registered an address within the Spokane County area are included. This search will provide an approximate address of the offender, a photograph of the offender, and a brief narrative section (when available) describing the past crimes and other information that led authorities to classify the offender as a "Level Three" sex offender.
Regardless of your search method, your report will only contain information about offenders who have properly registered with the Spokane Sheriff's Office and have a current address in the county. This can be problematic, because, let's face it...not all of them register.
So, in summary, watch your kids, research your neighborhood, and keep an eye out for each other!
Give me a call at 230-4153 if you would like mor community information on this topic. It is close to my heart.
This line was developed to serve and guide you by directing you via one number to various law enforcement divisions such as the Spokane Crime Reporting Center, Spokane Police Department, Juvenile Court, the Domestic Violence Team, Spokane Valley Police, County Sheriff, Spokane C.O.P.S., S.C.O.P.E., etc.
But, always remember:
Call 9-1-1 FOR CRIMES IN PROGRESS OR AN EMERGENCY WHEN YOU NEED A POLICE OFFICER TO RESPOND!
Secret Witness is Still: (509) 327-5111
Here are some helpful city and county websites that I have written down by my phone...You should too :)
To report abuse or neglect of a child or vulnerable adult, contact the Department of Social and Health Services at 1-866-EndHarm.
To report consumer fraud, contact the Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-551-4636 or file a consumer complaint online at www.atg.wa.gov.
To report Medicaid fraud, contact the Attorney General's Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at (253) 593-2154 or (253) 593-2155. Or write: Office of the Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, PO Box 2317, Tacoma, WA 98401.
Give me a call at 230-4153 if you would like any more information, or some more home safety tips :)
It's very frustrating to paint over graffiti on your property, only to have it vandalized again. I asked some local experts from the Spokane Graffiti Hotline how to "fix it"! Here are there two suggestions to paint out graffiti that will discourage further vandalism. Protect the investment of your home by removing graffit!
1. The BEST way - Paint the Entire Wall
Repaint the entire wall, or paint up to 7 feet high (making a straight line across the
top) with a color that matches the wall. This leaves no trace of graffiti and does not
draw the attention of the vandals. This method is 10 times more effective than
patching.
2. The NEXT TO BEST way - Paint in Patches
When it is not possible to paint the entire wall, use a closely matched color blocked
over the graffiti in neat, square shapes. The closer the color match, the more
effective it is in preventing further vandalism.
Remember...
The vandal's objective is to have others see his or her "tag" name. Vandals are drawn
to walls that are not cleaned immediately because it means their "tag" will be up longer
and seen by more people.
By covering the graffiti as soon as possible, you prevent your property from becoming a
"known" good site among vandals.
If You Need Help...
If you are unable to cover up or remove graffiti on your property due to financial or
physical limitations, please call me at 230-4153, or your nearest C.O.P.S. Shop (835-4592) for assistance.
Graffiti is more than an eyesore! It can signal an increase in gang activity and lower your home values. Let me tell you, few things will discourage a potential home buyer like a wall of graffiti! Here are some helpful and practical tips from local Spokane authorities!
1. When graffiti appears on your home, apartment building, or business, take a photo of it to document for insurance purposes.
2. Print out the photo and take to your nearest C.O.P.S. Shop, or email it to the Shop for the volunteers to document and send to the SPD Gang Unit.
3. Remove or paint over the graffiti immediately. This will help prevent more graffiti.
4. If you see graffiti on public property, such as street signs, retaining walls, poles, traffic control boxes, parking meters, bridges, mailboxes, etc., call the Graffiti Hotline 625-4180 and the C.O.P.S. Shop Volunteers will photograph,document and send to the SPD Gang Unit.
5. Volunteer to paint out graffiti on private property in your neighborhood. Call your nearest C.O.P.S. Shop or call 835-4592.
6. Volunteer at your local C.O.P.S. Shop. Be a volunteer...be part of the solution!
You know that property in your block that seems to spawn junk vehicles?How about that place across the street that you cannot even see because ofthe 6 foot weeks surrounding the yard, but you can smell the garbage that resides somewhere in that jungle?
Oh, and then there are those partying fools that engage in mysterious activities until the wee hours of the morning....Did I mention the parade of Rap-Blaring, muffler removed cars that idle at 4am?
Does any of this sound familiar? Do these situations bother you, or do they make youcompletely furious beyond belief? So, what are you doing about it?
Here is some advice for the home owner:
Do not turn your head to these negative issues. If ignored, all the nasty stuff will multiply. It's kind of like bacteria. If gone untreated, the bacteria spreads and turns into an epidemic!
There is help available for you call CODE ENFORCEMENT. Some common violations that
Code Enforcement deals with are:
• Junk Vehicles
• Refuse
• Fire Hazards from Vegetation and Debris
• Land Use Violations
• Vacant and Dangerous Buildings
Take responsibility to educate yourself and your neighbors on maintaining the quality-of-life you all expect. Spokane C.O.P.S. has an extensive network of preventive resources available to help you deal with Code Enforcement other crime-prevention issues before they get out-of-control.
Call me at 230-4153 , or or visit your local C.O.P.S. Substation for Code Enforcement complaint forms and for furthern information.
You may also access Spokane C.O.P.S. website at www.spokanecops.org for hundreds ofresources and educational pieces to help protect you and your family.
Hi all! Bring your families to enjoy kid friendly crafts, games, booths, and puppets!
Kids Day @ Riverfront Park!
August 9, 2008
It will be open from 11:00am - 4:00pm It is free to the Public!!!!
ALSO...
On August 16, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m There will be another free to the Public family friendly event! Various Meadows In Riverfront Park will have Child ID kits available, kite flying, face painting and live entertainment! A variety of safety training activities & information booths will be set up as well!
Those of you out there who subscribe to my blog know how much I love to be an active part of Spokane! Alisha and I are always running around making extra work for ourselves organizing community events....they are worth it though! Come join us for the Night Out Against Crime!
Typically parties start at 5:00 p.m., but you can make your own time for your party. Invite your neighbors to have a potluck, ice cream social, block off your street, or have a big BBQ. This is a great opportunity to meet your neighbors, for churches and businesses to connect with their community.
Free to the Community Neighborhoods and Businesses Spokane, WA
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