San Benito County Probation Conducts Sex Offender Sweep
October 28, 2021 - Hollister, CA - On October 26, 2021, the San Benito County Probation Department conducted an annual sex offender registration compliance sweep throughout the County of San Benito. Representatives from the Hollister Police Department, San Benito County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Marshal's Service (USMS), and California State Parole assisted during the operation.
During this sweep, law enforcement contacted registered sex offenders residing in San Benito County to ensure each offender is following state requirements. Pursuant to California Penal Code 290, sex offender registrants are required to register in person with the law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction where they reside. The registrants must also comply with several registration requirements, such as updating their registration annually and informing law enforcement when any changes have been made to their address or registration information. Failure by a sex registrant to keep law enforcement notified of an address change or registration information is a crime and can be punished as a felony or misdemeanor.
The operation had a total of 99 contacts, 86 registrants were determined to be in compliance and 13 individuals were found to be non-compliant requiring further investigation. Of the thirteen, there are potentially 4 International Megan’s Law (IML) cases currently being reviewed for further action by the US Marshal Service. Three (3) parole compliance searches were conducted. Investigators are completing follow up investigations into those found to be out of compliance.
The annual sex offender sweep is a collaborative effort to reduce violent sexual offenses in the county through proactive surveillance and arrest of habitual sexual offenders, and strict enforcement of state registration requirements.
Additional Resources:
https://meganslaw.ca.gov/faq.aspx
For more information, press only:
Renée Hankla, PIO
831-636-4060
[email protected]
