News and Information

Are Sex Offenders Visiting or Working at Your Child's School?
By Nick Bari, CommunityWatch.org

Sunday, August 20, 2006 – If you were asked the following question - Are Sex Offenders visiting your child's school on a regular basis? - how would you answer? Most school administrators and parents would answer "No Way", "Impossible", or "That would never happen at my school" - and, unbelievably, they would be very wrong.

Utilizing available Sex Offender registries across the U.S. to screen for potential registered sex offenders, a visitor, student and faculty tracking system called V•soft identified and alerted schools in Texas that sex offenders were in fact visiting schools - and many were visting on a regular basis!

Of all of the Registered Sex Offenders logged using V•soft in Texas schools, 73% had committed sexual crimes against children, the average age of their victim(s) was 11, and most of the Registered Sex Offenders logged were parents/guardians of a student(s) at that school and many of these parents/guardians visit their children's school on a regular basis!

These "parents" had committed crimes such as Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child 23%, Sexual Assault of a Child 20%, Indecency with a Child Sexual Contact 25%, Indecency with a Child by Exposure 5%, and Other Crimes (with Adult or Child) 27%. The average age of their victims was 11 years old.

But it's not just about checking parents, guardians, and visitors (volunteers, etc) - it's also about checking all teachers, administrators, school workers, and contractors on a regular basis - on every visit.

Remember Jessica Lunsford? Though John Couey's name was put on Florida's registry of sex offenders after its creation in 1996, he still was able to get a job on a construction project at Jessica's school. He had informed the local sheriff of his presence in the county, as sex offenders in the state are required to do, but apparently no one checked his criminal record when he applied for the job.

Occasionally we feature a product or service like V•soft that just makes sense for monitoring sex offenders - especially for schools and public libraries.

V•soft featuring InstAlert enables visitor, student and faculty tracking

V•soft is a web-based software application that was developed with the purpose of aiding educational facilities in tracking their visitors, students and faculty. V•soft not only provides an effective, efficient method for tracking, but also goes beyond conventional applications by utilizing available public databases to help control campus security.

V•soft provides users with the following capabilities:

Visitor Registration and Volunteer Tracking

Quick Scanning Capability: Drivers License or ID data is captured with an optical reader at the visitor check-in area

Self-Service/Kiosk Registration: Optional self-service station can be used by to check in and out. This station can be utilized to track personnel such as:

• Faculty
• Volunteers
• Student Badges: Ability to print student tardy badges

Virtual Volunteer

Only V•soft has Virtual Volunteer. This module allows a designated volunteer coordinator to ent er upcoming events that need volunteers. Pre-screened volunteers can log in from home or office, sign up to volunteer for events, edit their profile, view other participating volunteers, and track hours and expenses for tax purposes.

A reminder e-mail can be automatically sent to the volunteer prior to the event.

Alerts

Multiple alert features help school law enforcement to provide vit al information about potential dangerous situations. Moderators can enter individuals into "Private Alerts", allowing end-users to be aware of trespassers. The alert functions can be used for the following:

* Suspended or expelled students
* Students from rival schools
* Irate parents seeking revenge against a student or faculty member
* Known gang members
* Drug dealers
* Parents with restraining orders
* Faculty members' spouses with restraining orders
* Known sex offenders

V•soft presently utilizes available Sex Offender registries across the U.S. to screen for potential registered sex offenders. Searches are provided at no additional charge.

V•soft features Text Messaging. Messages can be automatically sent to a cell phone* to notify law enforcement and/or administration of logged sex offenders.

On onscreen alert notifies administrators of multiple student tardies–3, 4, 5 or more – you set the parameters.

Only V•soft features InstAlert. InstAlert is a system feature that allows school law enforcement to give instantaneous updates on situations or people that might compromise the safety of the campus. InstAlert can be sent to individual campuses or district-wide.

* Subject to cell phone capabilities and carrier

History and Reporting

Many educational facilities have been using a paper login sheet to record visitors and students coming and leaving. After use, these sheets are usually stored in a closet or filing cabinet and forgotten. V•soft allows schools and law enforcement to track this activity quickly and accurately, as well as view and/or print reports instantly.

V•soft can aid law enforcement in identifying trespassers to campuses on specific days, thereby helping identify repeat offender(s) and giving them the ability to respond quickly.

Searching Options:

• Visitors in and out
• Volunteers and their hours
• Students In (arriving late)
• Students out (leaving campus early)
• Date range (uses pop-up calendar)
• Sex Offenders Logged

Reports can be on individual schools or an entire district.

In the event of a disaster, the V•soft system is still accessible. Electronic records are kept off-site, offering ease of storage and reference.

Contact Raptorware today - see contact information below:

1-877-7RAPTOR Toll Free
713.880.8902 Phone
713.880.2577 Fax
sales@raptorware.com