It’s Almost Halloween Any Sex Offenders Live in Your Area?
If you plan to allow your kids to walk your neighborhood to trick or treat this Halloween do you know if any level three sex offenders live near you?
Currently more than 900 sex offenders make their home in the Yakima valley and many live in Yakima and authorities want you to make sure you know where the most dangerous offenders live.
LOCAL AUTHORITIES WANT YOU TO BE INFORMED BEFORE HALLOWEEN
Kerry Ann Ross with the Yakima County Sheriff's Office says information is available on the sheriff's office website by clicking on the sex offender information tab.
The site gives the general areas where sex offenders are living. Authorities are just asking parents to be aware where the offenders live to keep kids safe everyday and especially with Halloween set for next Tuesday.
MORE THAN 900 SEX OFFENDERS CALL YAKIMA HOME
Over the last 5 years the number of people being monitored has been between 700 and 900. Today 910 sex offenders live in the valley each legally labeled as an offender after being convicted in court. Of the 910 offenders 61 are labeled as "level three sex offenders" because authorities consider them to be the most likely to re-offend.
SEX OFFENDERS AREN'T THE ONLY PEOPLE YOU NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT
Authorities in the county are also monitoring 12 people who have been convicted of kidnapping. Authorities monitor the offenders when they are released from prison and each month authorities in Yakima arrest people for not registering with authorities.
The offenders are required to register with the Yakima County Sheriff's Office when they are released from prison. They must provide an address or if they are homeless they're required to check in weekly with the sheriff's office.
Some don't follow the rules and fail to register and every month authorities arrest offenders for failing to register.
CLICK ON THE LINK TO SEE WHERE THE OFFENDERS ARE LIVING IN YOUR AREA
Authorities are urging parents to know where the offenders live to protect kids, especially the Level 3 offenders who they say are the most likely to reoffend. Officials with the Yakima County Sheriff's Office say information is available on the sheriff's office website; https://www.sheriffalerts.com/cap_main.php?office=54495
the Yakima County Sheriff's Office website allows you to find the approximate address of Level 3 offenders to see if any are living in your area.
While 61 are the most likely to reoffend authorities say those who are Level 1 and 2 offenders are also a concern.
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