OUR GOAL: TO SEEK OUT AND FIND REGISTERED OFFENDERS IN YOUR AREA.
WHY DO YOU NEED THIS PRODUCT? BECAUSE STATISTICALLY, THERE IS A REGISTERED OFFENDER IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD! WE WILL EVEN SEND ALERTS RIGHT TO YOUR PC IF ONE MOVES NEAR YOU!
When criminals were arrested for a new crime, more than half of them were out on probation, parole or pretrial release for a previous crime.
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39% of jail inmates had already served 3 or more prior sentences.
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Of the hundreds of thousands of criminals released from prisons during a one year period, an estimated 67.5% were rearrested for a felony or serious misdemeanor within 3 years, 46.9% were reconvicted, and 25.4% resentenced to prison for a new crime.
AND THE MOST CHILLING STATISTICS:
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Sex offenders were about four times more likely than non-sex offenders to be arrested for another sex crime after their discharge from prison.
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Of released sex offenders and child molesters arrested for committing another sex crime, 40% perpetrated the new offense within a year or less from their prison discharge.
It's extremely troubling but the very fact that so many criminals are repeat offenders is what makes using criminal background checks so effective. Those past crimes leave a trail. Access to that trail, that criminal history, is easily available through the specialized background check services, like National Alert Registry.
The criminal history you can easily find out there can forewarn you. You'll know if someone has a criminal background and is therefore likely commit a crime again. It's not pre-judging. It's just being realistic and practical.
Safety experts are starting to recommend that parents use a criminal background checking service, such as National Alert Registry, regularly. By running a criminal background check on anyone you find suspicious or even anyone your child might come into contact with, you'll know if there's anything to worry about. You'll be armed with the knowledge you need to take appropriate action.
You can use the search services to check out your baby sitter, nanny, au pair, day care center and staff, and even school teachers and workers.
You can use it to search geographically and find out if known sex offenders live near you. It's now possible to determine exactly where they live.
To help you find the best possible service for criminal background checking, here are the things I've found important to consider during a review:
1. FREE VERSUS PAID
I've been disappointed by the free services. Better to pay the small fee and get quality information you can trust. Many of the better services have special offers of multi-year memberships for a low one-time fee. The cost can be less than what you'd pay for a low-priced blouse or golf shirt.
2. SPEED
You want a service that responds quickly and gives you exactly the information you need. Make sure you try it out. Check both speed and accuracy!
3. PROPRIETARY DATABASE
If a service compiles their own database, it's a sign they're more likely to be in the business for the long term. That's because a proprietary database is costly to build and maintain. A company wouldn't invest if they didn't expect to stay in business.
From a usability standpoint, a dedicated database is better too. You get a single interface that you can quickly learn.
(One note: I've never seen a free service that has its own database. Most of the free services I've checked out are really just link farms - they just point you at some public or government database. You could get that from the general search engines.)
4. TRAINING AND SUPPORT
Be sure you can easily learn to use any service you choose. Actually, you'll find that the better services are pretty intuitive: you'll know what to do just by looking at it. But better services will also provide extra, in-depth searching. If you ever need the extra, it might require you dig into it a bit before you can fully use it. Just make sure your service has easy, accessible ways to learn, like tutorials.
And don't ignore support. Sooner or later you'll have questions or there will be something you need help to get resolved. The best services offer free, live support with a phone number or live chat where you can talk directly with a person.
FINAL WORD:
It's a threatening world but fortunately, you can use modern technology to better protect your children. Like the experts recommend, sign up for National Alert Registry service and use it regularly.