Cedar Key News: Sheriff`s Corner

As you can see, law enforcements participation in cases is most intense at the reporting of the crime, the investigation and preparation for prosecution. Once the case goes to the State Attorney's Office or once the arrest is made, our participation lessens. We maintain contact with the prosecuting attorney, investigate additional case leads and prepare to testify in deposition and at trial if necessary.

Sometimes it becomes frustrating for the victim of crimes to see the offender get arrested and then get out of jail. Sometimes it's tough for us to see also. However, what is happening has to do with people's rights. Our agency must always respect and protect these rights.

I'd like to use the second half of this weeks Corner to start a unit on the sexual offender situation in our county, our state and to a degree our nation. There have been a number of cases recently involving sexual offenders who have violently, heinously and with total disregard for life, kidnapped and killed their victims. And as a result our entire sexual offender protocol is being looked at and may ultimately be changed. So I felt that this might be a good time to give you some facts about our Florida Sex Offender Laws.

I will identify and define "Sexual Predators and Sexual Offenders. We will talk about the qualifying offenses for someone to be designated a sexual offender or a sexual predator. We'll also talk about the registration requirements as well as law enforcements responsibilities once an offender or predator enters our community. And we'll talk about the implications for the many areas of our community that have offenders or predators.

I hope you have a great week.

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