Deputies in Jefferson, Tuscaloosa and Shelby Counties have used the Offender Watch program for several years.  Now, every investigator in the state is going to be using it, too.  Alabama recently bought the software from Watch Systems of Louisiana.

Law enforcement officers from Central Alabama learned how to use the program on Tuesday, during a training session at the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department.  They found out it will automatically alert them if a sex offender's address is too close to a school or daycare.  They were also taught about a mapping tool, they can use in the event of a rape or similar crime, that will show them if any offenders are living in a certain radius.

There are advantages for the public, as well.  By submitting an address through your county sheriff's website, you can be notified by e-mail if a sex offender ever moves within one mile of your home.  All this will take a little time, though.  There's still training to be completed.  By the end of June, however, every sheriff's deputy and police officer in the state should be completely conversant on Offender Watch. 

Email To A Friend