Senator Saland Announces New Facebook App Tracks Sex Offenders

Stephen M. Saland

November 15, 2011

Program allows parents to quickly search surroundings for threats to children

State Senator Steve Saland (R,I,C – Poughkeepsie) today announced that the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) has launched a Sex Offender Locator application which is accessible via the New York State Public Safety Facebook page. The app makes it easier for parents who want to quickly look up information regarding Level 2 and Level 3 Sex Offenders within their immediate area.

“As both parents and children become more reliant on social networking sites and the internet in general, I am pleased to see New York State once again leading the way in providing innovative ways for people to keep their families safe and free from harm,” said Senator Saland. “The more we educate the public and keep them informed, the better off our communities will be.”

This new app, which can be accessed by visiting my website at www.saland.nysenate.gov and clicking on the NY Sex Offender Locator App button, will allow users to search for Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders by last name, county or zip code. When searching by county or zip code, results will include individuals who have used aliases or different spellings of their name to circumvent New York State laws. After an individual is selected, their picture, location and criminal history will be given to the interested party. Facebook users also can share the application to their own pages and encourage their friends to do the same.