Policy Text
1 (12/07 /2020 ) ST. PETERSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT
INSTRUCTIONAL ORDER
Subject: SEXUAL PREDATORS AND SEXUAL OFFENDERS
Index as: Community Notification, Sex Offenders & Predators Sexual Predator
Notification to Community, Sex Offenders & Predators Sexual Predator and Offender Team (SPOT)
Registration of Sexual Offenders & Predators SPOT
Sexual Offender
Accreditation Standards: CFA 15.16, 15.17
Cross Reference: §775.21 and §943.0435, F.S.S.
Replaces : Sexual Predators and S exual Offenders ( August 28, 2017 )
This Order consists of the following sections:
I. Introduction
II. Policy
III. Definitions
IV. Community Notification
V. Referral of Predato rs or Offenders to Registering Agency
VI. Address Verification
VII. Investigation of Registration Violations
I. INTRODUCTION
Florida State Statutes mandate that within forty -eight (48) hours of a sexual predator or offender establishing permanent or
temporary residence, they must register with the Sheriff’s Office in the county in which they establish that residence, or wi th
the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
II. POLICY
In the interest of enhancing the safety and quality of life for t he citizens of St. Petersburg, the St. Petersburg Police
Department (SPPD) shall make appropriate referrals for proper predator/offender registration, use n ecessary resources to
initiate O fficer contact with the offender/predator, and keep the public infor med regarding the residence of sexual predators
and offenders.
III. DEFINITIONS
(Refer to the following Florida State Statutes for detailed definitions)
A. Sexual Offender – §943.0435(1)(a) , F.S.S. (http://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2016/943.0435 ) – Sexual
offender criteria.
B. Sexual Predator – §775.21 (4), F.S.S. ( http://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2016/775.21 ) – Sexual predator
criteria.
DATE OF
ISSUE EFFECTIVE DATE NUMBER
August 2017 Immediately V.5:23
Distribution: All Employees
Instructional Order V.5: 23
2 (12/07 /2020 ) IV. COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION
A. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) Sexual Predator and Offender Team (SPOT), with the assistance of
the Special Victims Unit (SVU) , ISB, is responsible for ensuring community notification when a sexual predator is
establishing permanent or tempora ry residency within the City.
1. The SPOT will coordinate notification of residents, daycare centers and schools within a one (1) mile radius of
the predator’s registered residence by either mailing FDLE predator flyers or personally contacting citizens.
2. Notification must be completed within forty-eight ( 48) hours of the PCSO SPOT being notified of the presence
of a predator.
3. FDLE predator flyers contain the predator’s identifying information along with the FDLE Web site address and
toll-free telephone number.
B. The Community Awareness Division shall:
1. Provide a link on the Department website to the FDLE Sexual Predator and Offender Website, FDLE Sexual
Offender Alert sign -up, and the PCSO SPOT website.
V. REFERRAL OF PREDATORS OR OFFENDERS TO REGISTERING AGENCY
A. The Records and Evidentiary Services Division shall direct any sexual predator or offender who comes to the
Department t o the Sheriff’s Office of the county in which they reside so they may properly register.
VI. ADDRESS VERIFICATION
A. Sexual Predators
1. Within forty -eight (48) hours of the time the PCSO SPOT is notified of a sexual predator’s temporary or
permanent residence within the City, the PCSO SPOT is responsible for verifying the predator’s address.
B. Sexual Offenders
1. Quarterly, the PCSO SPOT will receive information from FDLE identifying a group of registered sexual offenders
not under the care, custody, control, or supervision of the Department of Corrections, and who have not returned their
annual address verification form to FDLE.
2. At the r equest of the PCSO SPOT, the FDLE info rmation shall be provided to a P olice Officer responsible for
the geographic area of the offender’s residence on a Sexual Offender/Predator Address Verification Form from the Special
Victims Unit, ISB .
a. Upon receipt, the O fficer shall conduct an on -site residential address verification.
b. On contact, the offender’s personal information shall be confirmed by means of a Florida ID Card or Florida
Driver’s License.
c. Upon verification, the O fficer will complete the Sexual Offender/Predator Address Verification Form and
return it to the Special Victims Unit, ISB .
C. If, during the course of the address verification, it is learned that the predator or offender is no longer residing at the
address of record, an investigation shall be carried out as defined in this Order.
D. The Special Victims Unit, ISB will assign a person to serve as a liaison with the PCSO SPOT who will serve as the
primary point of contact for all information regarding sexual predators and sexual offenders residing within the City.
E. The PCSO SPOT shall update the State’s Sexual Offender CJNET Web site in compliance with an agreement
between SPPD and PCSO.