LIHU‘E — More sex offenders on Kaua‘i are now coming clean, calling in and asking if they are in compliance, said Kaua‘i Prosecuting Attorney Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho in a Saturday news release. “Kaua‘i law enforcement is being recognized as a leader
LIHU‘E — More sex offenders on Kaua‘i are now coming clean, calling in and asking if they are in compliance, said Kaua‘i Prosecuting Attorney Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho in a Saturday news release.
“Kaua‘i law enforcement is being recognized as a leader in the state in ensuring these (sex offender) laws are strictly followed,” Iseri-Carvalho said. “Offenders are now taking these laws very seriously. Their cooperation in coming to law enforcement, instead of having the police search for them, significantly decreases the anxiety faced by victims and results in huge financial savings to the county.”
About 25 Kaua‘i police officers, attorneys and other county officials attended a June 29 seminar hosted by the Kaua‘i Office of the Prosecuting Attorney as part of a collaborative effort of the OPA, the Kaua‘i Police Department and the State Attorney General’s Office to increase compliance and to fully investigate and prosecute sex offenders who fail to comply with registration requirements.
Jamie Ares, unit supervisor of the Attorney General’s Sex Offender Registration Division, conducted the training. She said she greatly appreciated the efforts of the OPA in working with local law enforcement to increase compliance.
“The Sex Offender Registration Unit of the Hawai‘i Criminal Justice Data Center, in conjunction with Kaua‘i’s law enforcement team, will be able to effectively respond to tips received from the public regarding covered offenders,” Ares said.
The OPA said the program’s efforts have dramatically increased compliance since its inception in 2011.
“Our sex offender registry laws are designed to help law enforcement stay informed of the whereabouts of dangerous sexual predators in our community,” Iseri-Carvalho said. “When these offenders fail to comply with the safeguards, both KPD and OPA make it one of our highest priorities to hold them responsible.”
According to state law, sex offenders must register with the attorney general’s office and/or the police department in the county in which they reside.
They must go to one of those agencies at least once a year, and must contact either of the agencies within three days of any changes to their registration information, including address or place of employment. And each quarter, they are required to fill out forms to document that the information they previously provided is still current.
The Kaua‘i Police Department, in conjunction with the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, conducted a sweep between November and January, in which 25 non-compliant sex offenders were picked up.
Some of those have already pled to the charge and are currently doing jail time, states the release. Others are pending trial.
Failure to Comply with Covered Offender Registration Requirements is a Class C felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $1,000 fine.
Visit www.sexoffenders.ehawaii.gov for more information on Convicted Sex Offenders from the Hawai‘i Criminal Justice Data Center.
