DeniseJ
06-25-2004, 10:08 AM
Alabama Community Notification Act
The following are provisions under Alabama's Community Notification Act:
Those convicted of certain sex offenses in Alabama must declare an address with local law enforcement agencies at least 30 days before their release from prison. Failure to do so is a misdemeanor.
<LI>When a law enforcement agency receives the address, they have to check the offender's intended residence to ensure the address is not within 2,000 feet of a school or child care center and is more than 1,000 feet from the sex offender's victim.
<LI>In Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville and Montgomery, law enforcement must notify residents within 1,000 feet of the offender's home. In other cities within the state with a population more than 5,000, law enforcement notifies residents within 1,500 feet of the offender's home. In all jurisdictions, schools and child care centers within 3 miles of the offender's intended address also are notified. Fliers or postcards with the offender's name, photograph and description are then mailed or hand-delivered to these residents.
<LI>Once at a residence, convicted sex offenders must notify their local law enforcement agencies if they decide to move. The notification must take place at least 30 days before the offender moves. The convict must also register with the local law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where he or she has moved. Notification of residents surrounding the offender's new address follows. Failure to comply is a misdemeanor.
<LI>Offenders go through an address verification process each year during their birth months. The Alabama Department of Public Safety sends a verification notice to the offender, who then goes to the sheriff's office and is photographed and fingerprinted. Local law enforcement verifies that the offender still lives at the registered address. The verification information is then sent back to the Alabama Department of Public Safety. If offenders do not follow the verification process, they may face Class C felony charges, punishable by a prison sentence of from one year and one day to 10 years.
Offenders who move into Alabama from other states must go through the registration and notification process if the crime they were convicted of is comparable to those covered by Alabama law. These offenders are granted a due process hearing to determine if the out-of-state offense is applicable under Alabama law.
The following are provisions under Alabama's Community Notification Act:
Those convicted of certain sex offenses in Alabama must declare an address with local law enforcement agencies at least 30 days before their release from prison. Failure to do so is a misdemeanor.
<LI>When a law enforcement agency receives the address, they have to check the offender's intended residence to ensure the address is not within 2,000 feet of a school or child care center and is more than 1,000 feet from the sex offender's victim.
<LI>In Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville and Montgomery, law enforcement must notify residents within 1,000 feet of the offender's home. In other cities within the state with a population more than 5,000, law enforcement notifies residents within 1,500 feet of the offender's home. In all jurisdictions, schools and child care centers within 3 miles of the offender's intended address also are notified. Fliers or postcards with the offender's name, photograph and description are then mailed or hand-delivered to these residents.
<LI>Once at a residence, convicted sex offenders must notify their local law enforcement agencies if they decide to move. The notification must take place at least 30 days before the offender moves. The convict must also register with the local law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where he or she has moved. Notification of residents surrounding the offender's new address follows. Failure to comply is a misdemeanor.
<LI>Offenders go through an address verification process each year during their birth months. The Alabama Department of Public Safety sends a verification notice to the offender, who then goes to the sheriff's office and is photographed and fingerprinted. Local law enforcement verifies that the offender still lives at the registered address. The verification information is then sent back to the Alabama Department of Public Safety. If offenders do not follow the verification process, they may face Class C felony charges, punishable by a prison sentence of from one year and one day to 10 years.
Offenders who move into Alabama from other states must go through the registration and notification process if the crime they were convicted of is comparable to those covered by Alabama law. These offenders are granted a due process hearing to determine if the out-of-state offense is applicable under Alabama law.