“We are asking the public or individuals to call us if they want to include a profile or if they believe an individual should not be included,” DPS acting spokesman and Sex Offender Registry officer-in-charge PO2 Jason Tarkong told the Variety shortly after he uploaded the profiles.
Tarkong said they are still scanning pictures of sex offenders taken years ago.
The public may contact the Sex Offender Registry Office at 664-9026 or 664-9001 for more information.
In July 2009, DPS submitted to the Attorney General’s Office a standard operating procedure for uploading sex offenders.
On Thursday afternoon, Variety learned that Assistant Attorney General Russel Lorfing was at the Sex Offender Registry office, assisting Tarkong and another officer with the details of the profiles to be uploaded.
In her blog site “Unheard No More!” human rights advocate Wendy Doromal said: “Congratulations to the CNMI DPS for getting this information out to the public. It is especially important because of the recent string of sexual assaults in Saipan.”
The former Rota teacher, added, however that DPS may still be “in the process of updating the list. If you put in some names under name search, you cannot locate the sexual offender, but he is listed under the general zip code search.”
The local registry (http://cnmi.nsopw.gov) is linked to the national sex offender registration and notification website.
The U.S. Department of Justice said states and territories have until July 27, 2010 to substantially implement the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, although a request for a one-year extension may be submitted.
Failure to substantially implement the federal law will result in a 10 percent reduction in a state or territory’s Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funding.
In the CNMI, criminal sex offenders are required by law to declare in writing the actual living address at which he will reside upon release.
DPS said an intentional failure to provide a timely and accurate written declaration will be a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 and one year of imprisonment.
