An Overview of the Connecticut Sex Offender Registry

An Overview of the Connecticut Sex Offender Registry Presented by: Sgt. Matthew Garcia

A Brief History of the Registry

Jacob Erwin Wetterling Kidnapped October 22, 1989 St. Joseph, MN. § On the evening of Oct. 22, 1989 Jacob, his brother and a friend were returning from a video rental store when confronted by a masked man. The boys were ordered to lay down in a ditch. After asking their ages the two other boys were told to leave or risk getting shot. 11 year-old Jacob has not been since. § Suspect has never been identified § State Sex Offender Registry

Megan Kanka and Megan’s Law

Registered sex offenders in the U. S. and its territories

The Connecticut Sex Offender Registry →Central Record System →October 1, 1998 →Retroactive to October 1, 1988 for Sexually Violent Offenders as defined by state statute →Any person who has been convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of a sexually violent offense, criminal offense against a victim who is a minor or a nonviolent sexual offense

The Connecticut Sex Offender Registry →Those who have committed a Sexual Offense in another jurisdiction →Felony committed for a sexual purpose →Database – 61% of Registered Sex Offenders Nationwide

The Connecticut Sex Offender Registry • Registry terms defined by state statute • Offense based • 10 years – Offense against minor/non-violent • Lifetime – sexually violent

The Connecticut Sex Offender Registry → 5, 368 Registered Sex Offenders in the State (10/14/15) → 400 new registrants each year → 252 complete term/annually → 19, 670 Address Verification Letters mailed -2014 → 17, 394 AVL’s mailed – 10/1/15 → 7. 41% Non-Compliant →Most common reason: Failure to return address verification letter within 10 days.

The Connecticut Sex Offender Registry § § § § Registration Requirements 90 Day Address Verification Address Changes – 5 days Name Changes – 5 days Out of State Employment Educational Institution Photo Retakes every 5 years Internet Identifiers

The Connecticut Sex Offender Registry – Primary Functions § § Process registrations Send 90 -day address verifications Process changes of address (avg. 25 -30/day) Investigation -prepares affidavit/reports on registry violations § Retake photos § Entries into National Crime Information Center

Notifications Superintendent of schools for the school district in which the registrant resides – Email Municipal C. E. O’s - Email Police Dept. Liaison Officer – Letter SORNA Portal – communication between states

Misconceptions • Residency restrictions • (May be set by Parole or Probation. ) • Social Media • Juveniles • Registration suspended while incarcerated – An offenders term does not cease while incarcerated only their registration requirements.

SORNA Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act Ø Title I of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 Ø A comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. Ø Substantial Implementation ØPacket submitted to the SMART Office in December 2014 for review.

Partnerships • Providing training for liaison officers on use of database – efficient means of sharing information amongst law enforcement • Compliance checks – parole • Warrants sweeps/Absconded – U. S. Marshals Service • Probation • Dept. of Corrections • Public

CT. SORU and SORNA Connecticut Ø 10 yrs. vs. Lifetime Ø Quarterly address verification letters – Every 90 days Ø Convictions of juveniles who are prosecuted as adults. Ø DNA – CODIS Ø Fingerprints/Palm prints – IAFIS Ø Registration 3 days upon release into community Ø Courts may restrict the dissemination of registry information for certain offenders Ø Public Website Federal Ø Tier based – I, III Ø In-person verification Ø Convictions of juveniles who are prosecuted as adults. Ø DNA – CODIS Ø Fingerprints/Palm prints – IAFIS Ø Registration must occur before release from “imprisonment” Ø Tier I and Tier III: may be terminated if certain requirements are meant Ø Requires states to maintain a public website Ø 20 States and 91 Indian Nations and Tribes – Substantially implemented

The Connecticut Sex Offender Registry Thank you