61170680.pdf

\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER TITLE ACCREDITATION Sexual Predator and Offender Registration and Tracking PRIOR REVISIONS Procedures 09/01/01;11/03/05; 10/24/19 ATTACHMENT: PROPONENT UNIT Criminal Investigations Bureau NUMBER ISSUE DATE REVISION DATE TOTAL PAGES 40.22 07/01/98 09/17/2024 4 I PURPOSE: This Order establishes Departmental guidelines and procedures for the registration and tracking of, and notification regarding, sexual predators and sexual offenders as defined in Florida State Statute 775.21, and 943.0435. II POLICY: The Department will comply with statutory mandates regarding address verification of sexual offenders and predators, and will proactively inform the public of the presence of sexual predators residing within Gainesville’s City limits. The Department will maintain a close working relationship with local and state criminal justice and other concerned agencies in an effort to revise and share information, and actively target offenses regarding, and relating to, these efforts. III DEFINITIONS: A Sexual Offender: A person is designated as a sexual offender if he/she meets the criteria as defined in Florida State Statute 943.0435. B Sexual Predator: 1 A sex offender who, pursuant to the criteria established in Florida State Statute 775.21(4), has been found by a court of law in the State of Florida to be a sexual predator. 2 Repeat sexual offenders, sexual offenders who use physical violence, and sexual offenders who prey on children are sexual predators who present an extreme threat to the public safety. IV PROCEDURE A Registration of Sexual Predators and Offenders: Persons designated as sexual predators and sexual offenders are required to register themselves with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), either through a Sheriff’s Office or an FDLE Office. If any individual should present him/herself to a member of the Department to be registered as a sexual predator/offender in Alachua County, the department member shall 1\n\n--- Page 2 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER direct the individual to report to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office or the local Florida Department of Law Enforcement office. B Florida Sexual Predator List: The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has established a toll-free system for obtaining sexual predator information. The information can be accessed in one of two ways: 1 Telephone number: 1-888 FLPREDATOR. 2 Internet address: www.fdle.state.fl.us. C Receipt, Distribution and Disposition of Information: Information from any source (e.g., mail, teletype, or reports from other law enforcement agencies) received by Department members regarding sexual predators and offenders shall be forwarded to the Investigations Bureau. The Investigations Bureau Commander will determine distribution within the Bureau, to include the Crime Analysis Section and the detective designated to track sexual predators and offenders. 1 Records Section: Section personnel will usually be the main point of receipt within the agency and shall ensure that the information received is immediately forwarded to the Investigations Bureau. Any change in address by predator/offender will be entered into the Records Management System by the designated records technician. The information will then be forwarded to the Investigations Bureau. 2 Assigned Detective: The designated Investigations Bureau detective shall be responsible for the following: i Verifying that a person is a sexual predator/offender and is a Gainesville resident (i.e., has provided a valid location as an address and it is current). ii Verification may include obtaining a copy from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, of the offender’s court-designated status as a sexual predator/offender. iii Verifying the listed addresses given by sexual predators and offenders. iv Conducting on-site residential address verifications of sexual predators and offenders not under the supervision of the Department of Corrections when such persons fail to respond to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement verification letter. a Verifications of addresses of sexual predators, who have not responded to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement letter, shall be conducted at least quarterly, b Verifications of addresses of sexual offenders shall be conducted at least annually. v Distributing information to Departmental personnel regarding sexual predators who temporarily or permanently reside within the City of Gainesville. 2\n\n--- Page 3 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER vi In addition to general distribution, this requirement also specifically includes: The Public Information Office, who will then be responsible for dissemination of information to the community and posting this info on the departments social media outlets. vii Submitting sexual predator and offender address verification and related field intelligence to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Sexual Offender Database in a timely manner. 3 Crime Analysis Section: Section personnel will be responsible for mapping the registered residences of sexual offenders and predators, and for making this information available to Department personnel via the Intranet. 4 Patrol/ Operations Responsibilities: Patrol personnel are expected to do the following: i Familiarize themselves with statutory requirements regarding sexual offenders and predators; and with the names and residential locations posted on the Department’s intranet site. Zone officers should know the predators/offenders in their zone, and: a Conduct verifications of addresses of sexual predators at least quarterly. b Conduct verifications of addresses of sexual offenders at least semi-annually. ii Cooperate to the fullest extent possible with the designated detective when requested to assist with address verification, violations, and other pertinent tasks. D Curfew Sweeps: Department of Corrections Probation and Parole employees tasked with the responsibility of supervising sexual predators/offenders conduct curfew sweeps to determine if the predator / offender is where he/she is supposed to be. Department members will assist with these curfew sweeps as requested / needed. E Community Notification: Pursuant to Florida law FSS 775.21, the Department, through the Public Information Office (PIO), shall notify the public regarding sexual predators who are residing within the City of Gainesville. [CALEA 54.1.1.b] 1 The Public Information Office is responsible for performing the following actions [CALEA 54.1.1.d]: i Verifying the accuracy of the information prior to release. ii Completing and distributing a news release, to include the following: a Name of the offender, b Physical description, 3\n\n--- Page 4 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER c Photograph, d Current address, e Circumstances of the offenses, f Whether the victim of the offense was a minor or adult. NOTE: The victim’s age or name shall not be released. iii When applicable to the neighborhood, notifying the Neighborhood Crime Watch chairpersons where the sexual predator resides; iv Notifying each elementary, middle and high school within a one-mile radius of the temporary or permanent address of the predator. a The Alachua County School Board Public Information Office may be notified to accomplish this task. b Private schools and learning centers will have to be individually notified. v At a minimum, notifying all licensed daycare businesses and home care facilities within a mile of the sexual predator’s residence. vi Maintaining a file containing / tracking information released to the public regarding sexual predators and sexual offenders. vii Repeating all applicable steps if and when the sexual predator changes residences inside the City. F Training: The Department shall ensure personnel assigned to perform address verification and maintenance of a local sexual predator and offender database, as well as alternate