Wyoming Reviewer's Comments

Wyoming is among the first states to address the 2006 Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act and revamp their site accordingly. All states will have to comply by mid-2009 or lose funding—something Wyoming does not have to worry about. Search functions, profiles and mapping are seamlessly integrated. Profile information is adequate, but less detailed than higher ranked states. Email notifications are available. All in all, Wyoming provides a valuable resource for its citizens and a model for other states. 

Wyoming Screenshots. Click for more
       


Information Provided:  

Profile information is determined by Wyoming. It includes a standard physical description, home address and conviction title, statute, date and place. Other states offer school and work addresses and limited victim information. These additions would improve the usefulness of this site. 

Search Functions:  

Wyoming offers one of the most well organized searches in the country. Search by registrant name, street name, city, county, and zip code or locate registrants within a specified radius from an address of concern. The results list includes color photographs and links to the full profile or to the map—Wyoming sets the standard for profile, search and map integration. 

Additional Site Features:  

Wyoming includes background information on the Registration Act, thorough FAQs, Statistics by county, and email notifications when any registrant moves in or out of a specified zip code. 

Ease of Use:  

Wyoming’s Sex Offender Registry is easy to navigate and reflects good design principles throughout. Directions are brief and clear. Drop down menus are provided in searches for city, county and zip code. Integration between search results, profiles and mapping is seamless. 

Contact Information:  

You can contact the Webmaster through email with one click. Wyoming is one of the few states to offer a convenient pop-up email form for contact. They also post the phone numbers and address for the attorney generals offices. 

Summary:  

Wyoming’s Sex Offender Registry sets the standard for integrating search, results, profiles and mapping. The site is well designed and subsequently, easy to use. What’s missing? Risk assessment or some indicator of the severity of the offense, safety and prevention information, and additional profile details.