As part of its Crimes Against Children Program (CAC), the FBI has posted a state-by-state list linking visitors to the online sex offender databases for each state.
Each state provides widely varying levels of information. For example, New Jersey allows geographical and name searching (among other options) and displays photos and last known address information for registered sex offenders, while Arkansas supplies only numbers of registered sex offenders by county and “does not publicly list the names and addresses of registered sex offenders,”according to the state's online Crime Information Center. Some states, such as California, do not supply any information online at all.
According to the FBI's web site, the mission of the (CAC) program is to "provide a quick and effective response to all incidences of crimes against children." The site goes on to explain the Bureau's strategy to meet this goal:
- decrease the vulnerability of children to acts of sexual exploitation and abuse;
- develop a nationwide capacity to provide a rapid, effective, and measured investigative response to crimes involving the victimization of children; and
- enhance the capabilities of state and local law enforcement investigators through training programs, investigative assistance, and task force operations.
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