Illinois State Police online information expanded to help parents protect kids against violent offenders          

Mapping capabilities help parents get more information about sex offenders, child murderers and violent offenders

[May 24, 2007]  SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich unveiled two new features Sunday to the information posted online by the Illinois State Police. This will provide communities with more information about people convicted of sex offenses, child murderers and violent offenders who have harmed children. The enhancements are the result of legislation signed by the governor to protect communities from sexual predators.

Senate Bill 3016 and House Bill 4193 require the Illinois State Police to enhance mapping capabilities that show names and addresses of offenders on the Illinois Sex Offender Registry. The legislation also adds the Child Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registry to the Illinois State Police home page.

"Technology can be a strong tool in our efforts to make communities safer. By using the Internet to give parents easy access to information about potentially dangerous people living in their communities, they are in a better position to protect their children from harm," Blagojevich said.

On July 3, 2006, Blagojevich signed Senate Bill 3016, which requires the Illinois State Police to add mapping capabilities on the Illinois Sex Offender Information site, http://www.isp.state.il.us/sor/. Individuals making an inquiry on the site can determine the residence of a registered sex offender through a map with a radius from 500 feet to five miles from their home or any other address. Locations of schools and city, county and state parks are also displayed. Users can also obtain a photograph, if available, physical descriptions and information about crimes for which the individual was convicted and is required to register.

"We are pleased to announce enhancements to our database in order to provide additional resources to protect our community," said Larry G. Trent, Illinois State Police director. "The improvement gives law enforcement additional tools in providing public safety and ensures that these violent criminals are being monitored more closely."

Also now available online through the Illinois State Police is the Child Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registry, accessible at http://www.isp.state.il.us/cmvo/. This registry contains individuals convicted of specific crimes in which the victim was a minor but the crime was not sexually motivated. The crimes -- as defined by House Bill 4193, signed by Blagojevich on June 27, 2006 -- include kidnapping, aggravated kidnapping, unlawful restraint, aggravated unlawful restraint and any attempt to commit any of these offenses when the victim is under 18 years of age and when the defendant is not a parent of the victim. Other offenses include forcible detention, child abduction or murder when the victim was a person under 18 years of age and the defendant was at least 17 years of age.

Similar to the Illinois Sex Offender Information site, the Child Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registry reflects individuals who have been determined by the county state's attorney to qualify under the provisions of the new statute. Until proper verification and notification is received by law enforcement from the state's attorney, these individuals will remain on the Illinois Sex Offender Information site. All sex offenders who may be eligible for registration under the Child Murderer Violent Offender Youth Act have been notified of the process he or she must initiate to be transferred from the Sex Offender Registry to the Child Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registry. These offenders must continue to register as sex offenders until the appropriate determination has been made and information has been received by law enforcement.

Senate Bill 3016 was sponsored by Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Westmont, and House Bill 4193 was sponsored by Rep. John Fritchey, D-Chicago.

[Text from file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]