Florida Reviewer's Comments

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Sexual Offenders and Predators site earns the “TopTenREVIEWS Gold Award" for its proactive search function: it is one of only three states to offer a search by electronic identity. Registered sex offenders are required to submit both their email and instant messaging contacts before they are used. Concerned citizens can easily see if a screen name appears on Florida’s sex offender registry. With the public’s rising concern about predators online, Florida offers this important electronic defense. An interactive map to search for sex offenders within a specified radius, a guided search option, comprehensive offender information and an informative FAQ page solidify Florida’s #1 ranking. 

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Information Provided:  

Florida divides the registrants into three groups: sexual predator, sexual offender and multiple offenders. Sexual predators are clearly labeled in red. The registry provides a lot of personal information about the offenders. It lists a physical description, has a large picture, the offender’s address and even vehicle and vessel (boat) information.

The offenders’ profiles also include information about their crime or crimes, including a case number, crime description and conviction date. You can click on the crime description for the legal definition of the crime. 

Search Functions:  

Florida allows you to search three ways:

1. Offender Search: First name, last name, city of residence, county of residence or zip code
2. Neighborhood Search: Enter an address and find sex offenders within a one to five mile radius; you may map your results to show sexual predators, sexual offenders and multiple offenders
3. E-Mail/IM Search: Enter an email address or an instant message name and find out if it is associated with a registered sex offender.

This registry is the only one to offer both a standard and a guided search. This registry also lists absconder offenders and sex offenders who were convicted outside of Florida. 

Additional Site Features:  

In addition, the Florida sex offender registry offers legal information and safety tips as well as maps so you can see where offenders live.

Ease of Use:  

This website has a guided search that will walk you through finding the information you need. You can access the site by Googling “Florida sex offender” or through the Florida state home page.

Contact Information:  

You can contact the Florida Department of Law Enforcement by phone or email and they list a physical address. We sent an email and they responded within the hour.

Summary:  

The State of Florida leads the nation in both the availability of sex offender information and its accessibility. Searching by electronic identity and mapping by offender type provide the public with relevant information about their worlds: real and virtual. We urge other states to incorporate these useful features, and raise the bar for safety across the country.