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April 21, 2008
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Texas police ready for increase in sex offenders
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Corpus Christi police know they're out there — a growing number of sex offenders living in the city — and the department is gearing up for an expected increase in work that comes with the higher numbers.
In April 2007, the city was home to 683 registered sex offenders, according to police data. By the beginning of this month, that number increased nearly 28 percent to 872 sex offenders. Police Cmdr. David Torres says factors responsible for the increase include greater victim awareness, a general increase in the city's population and stepped-up enforcement by police, probation and parole officials. Torres said he expects two new civilian employees to join the criminal investigation division by mid-May to help manage the increasing work required to keep up with the offender population. The department will advertise an analyst and a senior staff assistant position to help the detective who handles sex offender cases among other duties. "We need to make sure we on the enforcement side stay ahead of the population," Torres said. The analyst will ensure information on the online sex offender database is current, frequently updating information authorities have gathered, Torres said. The staff assistant will be responsible for helping a detective prepare cases, track down documents, meet with probation and parole officials and monitor which offender must abide by what conditions. The city averages about 390 criminal cases per year involving sex offenders. Violations include people moving and not notifying the state of a new address, child molesters hanging around schools or playgrounds and rapists coming in close contact with their victims. The one detective who handles these cases also takes on homicide, sexual assault and other, non-sex offender-related cases. With two new employees, the three will work as a unit with the ultimate goal of the detective only investigating sex crimes and non-compliance issues, Torres said. A large part of the new employees' job will be to maintain contact with other groups, especially local law enforcement agencies, parole officers and the Nueces County Community Supervision and Corrections Department. Offenders only can stay on probation or parole a set amount of time, but they usually are restricted with registration requirements for their entire lives. Javed Syed, director of the county supervision and corrections department, said keeping up with offenders on probation is a challenge. Most sex offenders stay current and don't commit additional offenses, he said. The most violent offenders and those who assaulted children typically pose the most problems. "Some of them try to test and see what they can get away with, and you constantly have to remind them they can't get away with it," Syed said. Most offenders are required to go to counseling and take polygraph tests to ensure they are not slipping or re-offending. The county has three full-time compliance officers who go at all times of the day and week to check up on offenders. Torres said police also have officers check on sex offenders. "One of the most difficult tasks we have in law enforcement is keeping track of known sex offenders who are prone to repeat offenses," said police Chief Bryan Smith. "By having these civilians working this assignment, it's going to allow our officers to be much more productive in dealing with these cases." Copyright 2008 The Corpus Christi Caller-Times
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