Monika Leininger
Mleinin1@uwyo.edu
Within Albany County there are 50 registered sex offenders, which are on a regular watch by the county sheriff department.
When sex offenders move to the Albany County area they are required to register with the Sheriff’s office. After registration personal profiles are posted to a website where the public has access to photos, physical descriptions, addresses and conviction history.
Offenderwatch.com will allow residents to search a local address to find sex offenders living in their area. According to the website, within a five-mile radius of the University of Wyoming campus there are 12 registered sex offenders.
“We update the website in real time,” Albany County Sheriff’s Deputy Michelle Perue said. “Whenever we get a report of a sex offender moving, changing their car or make any significant physical changes such as shaving a beard, the website reports it right away”
Deputy Perue believes the county has a small number of registered sex offenders in comparison to other counties around the state.
“Albany County has 50 registered sex offenders that’s not much in comparison to other counties such as Carbon County with over 100 registered offenders,” Perue said.
Perue said Albany County has a lot of “change out” offenders meaning many move away to other locations.
“There are a few university students and some that attend WyoTech and LCCC,” she said. “Offenders come and go – when they leave they have to register somewhere at their new residence.”
Offenderwatch.com shows information about the conviction of the offender. Common offenses are sexual abuse of a minor, immoral and indecent acts of a minor and sexual assault in the first, second and third degree.
“I encourage individuals to look up the statutes to find out what constitutes as sexual assault in the first, second and third degree,” Perue said
The sheriff’s office does occasional checks on the offenders to make sure they are compliant.
“After they are registered, we make sure offenders aren’t living within 1,000 feet of a school,” Perue said. “We expect offenders to continue attending classes and counseling as terms of their probation and keep us posted on major changes in their life.”
Resources such as statutes, descriptions of offenders and addresses are made available to residents and visitors of Albany County to ensure a safe, informed community, Perue said.
