SPRINGFIELD, IL -- The Illinois State Police (ISP) announced that more than 5,500 photographs of registered sex offenders are now available on the ISP web site at www.state.il.us/isp. Legislation passed in July 1999 required that all available photographs be placed on the Internet by the state police effective July 1, 2000.
Internet users can search the site by entering: (1) the offender's last name (or the first few letters of a last name), (2) city, (3) county, or (4) zip code. A multiple search option is also available enabling users to search by last name in combination with a city, county, or zip code. A photograph and physical description of the offender, along with a date of birth and address are displayed and can be printed. The age of the victim (over or under 18) is also provided.
"The site has proved to be mutually beneficial to the public and law enforcement," said Illinois State Police Director Sam W. Nolen. "In the privacy of their homes, citizens can offer concerns and information to the ISP, which helps us locate individuals who are in violation of the Sex Offender Registration (SOR) Act. The addition of these photographs will only enhance this communication."
The ISP began administering the SOR Community Notification Program January 1, 1996, by managing the registration of more than 14,000 sex offenders. Since the web site was introduced to the public in November 1999, more than 800 inquiries have been received from the public, and 99 tips have been received so far this year resulting in the location of 16 sex offenders who were in violation of the SOR Act. |
