CORPUS CHRISTI — Want to know if any registered sex offenders live in your neighborhood?
The Nueces County Sheriff's Office and Corpus Christi Police Department announced the launch of a website on Tuesday that will help residents do just that.
Sheriff Jim Kaelin said the system had been in the works for about a year but only became a reality after he met with Corpus Christi Police Chief Troy Riggs.
"This is a tool that will give them an extra edge of protection," Kaelin said.
There are fewer steps to navigate than the Department of Public Safety's searchable online sex offender registry, giving users easier access to the information they want, officials said.
Residents can type in an address and view a map showing the location of any sex offenders who live within a 2-mile radius.
Each profile will show the offender's photo, physical description and the type of offense. Users also can sign-up for e-mail alerts to find out when a registered sex offender moves into their neighborhood.
The system will make it easier for law enforcement to keep track of when offenders are due to register and flags noncompliant offenders, said Stephen Rodriguez, the territory manager for Watch Systems, the company behind the program.
Riggs said the system is meant to arm residents with vital information but also will help with more proactive police work.
"We don't want people to be afraid, but we want people to be aware and use common sense," Riggs said.
"There is a lot that this is going to do for us," he said.
Officers can use the system in their patrol cars to look for potential suspects who live in the area of a reported sexual assault, he added.
The system will cost $7,000 a year. It will be paid for with drug forfeiture funds.
"It didn't cost our taxpayers a dime," Kaelin said.
