PUBLIC NOTICE: Please be aware that we are working with the Seattle Police Department and King County Sexual Assault Resource Center to schedule a neighborhood meeting regarding the recent conviction and potential return of one resident to his home near West Woodland Elementary School.

It is important that you attend this meeting. This will be your opportunity to speak directly with law enforcement, ask questions, and learn how to discuss this sensitive topic with your family.

We anticipate the meeting will occur in the next 14 days, please check this site for additional information early next week.

From the Seattle Police Department website:

UNDERSTANDING SEX OFFENDER NOTIFICATION

Information on sex and kidnapping offenders is released in accordance with the Revised Code of Washington, section 4.24.550; the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act, 42 USC 14071; the Washington State Supreme Court decision State v. Ward 123 Wn.2d 488; and the US Supreme Court decision in Connecticut Dept. of Public Safety v. Doe, 538 U.S. 1 (2003); which authorizes law enforcement agencies to inform the public of a sex or kidnapping offenders release when the release of information will enhance public safety and protection.

Individuals who appear in these databases have been convicted of sex or kidnapping offenses that require registration with the sheriff’s office in the county of their residence. Further, their previous criminal history places them in a classification level, which reflects the potential to re-offend.

All of the offenders on this site are a level 2 (moderate risk) or level 3 (high risk). Approximately 70 percent of sex offenders are level 1 (low risk) and are not subject to proactive community notification.

These sex or kidnapping offenders have served the sentence imposed on them by the courts and have advised the King County Sheriff’s Department that they will be living within the city limits of Seattle. They are not wanted by the police.

SEX OFFENDERS IN THE COMMUNITY

Sex and kidnapping offenders have always lived in our communities; but it wasn’t until passage of the Community Protection Act of 1990 (which mandates sex and kidnapping 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. This information is not intended to increase fear. Rather, it is our belief that an informed public is a safer public.

The Seattle Police Department has no legal authority to direct where a sex or kidnapping offender may or may not live. Unless court ordered restrictions exist, this offender is constitutionally free to live wherever he or she chooses.

Citizen abuse of this information to threaten, intimidate or harass registered sex or kidnapping offenders will not be tolerated. Further, such abuse could potentially end law enforcement’s ability to do community notifications. We believe the only person who wins if community notification ends is the sex or kidnapping offender, since they derive their power through secrecy.

If you have questions or need to talk to someone in the Seattle Police Department Sex and Kidnapping Offender Detail, please call 206-684-5332.

SEARCH FOR SEX OFFENDERS IN YOUR AREA

On March 10, 2009, Governor Christine Gregoire announced a new statewide sex offender database. This database links all information on sex offenders into one centralized location, and is maintained through the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC).

Access the database HERE.