SEXUAL OFFENDER/SEXUAL PREDATOR COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION

SEXUAL OFFENDER/SEXUAL PREDATOR COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION

ap8470Adopted August 1, 2002Revised January 17, 2008

8470 - SEXUAL OFFENDER/SEXUAL PREDATOR COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION

  1. The Public Safety Information Act, F.S. 775.21(7) established that all sexual predators who committed their act on or after October 1, 1993 are now subject to mandatory community notification and registration requirements.

  2. Information on sex offenders or sexual predators may be obtained by contacting FDLE's toll free telephone number 1- 888-FL-PREDATOR (1-888-357-7332) and through FDLE's Internet website: www.fdle.state.fl.us.

  3. Once the Sheriff of the County and the Police Chief of the Municipality are notified by FDLE of a sexual predator's presence, the Sheriff or Police Chief must notify the community. There is no "specified manner" to notify the community. Notification is now in "any manner deemed appropriate" by the notifying agency head for all sex offenders.

  4. The information disseminated to the public MUST include: name, description of the predator, photograph, address (if known), circumstances of the offense(s), and whether the victim was at the time of the offense a minor or an adult.

  5. Schools may provide a meeting site for community meetings if requested by the Sheriff or the Chief of Police.

  6. See Board Rule 6Gx5-1.11 as follows:

    The School Board of Brevard County is committed to assisting the Sheriff and Chiefs of Police with their statutory requirement for mandatory community notification of sexual predators and optional community notification with regard to sex offenders as required by the Public Safety Information Act, 1997.

    1. Distribution of Information Provided to School

      1. All posters and/or other information provided directly to schools by the Sheriff or Chief of Police will be maintained by the school for review by parents, students, and other members of the public. The principal will maintain an updated binder system of offenders for review by parents, students, and other members of the public. This is the primary means of notification to schools for the purpose of community notification within each law enforcement jurisdiction.

      2. All posters and/or other information provided directly to the Office of District and School Security by the Sheriff or Chief of Police will be distributed to all schools within the District. The principal will also include this information of offenders in the updated binder system of offenders for review by parents, students, and other members of the public. This is a secondary means of notification to schools for the purpose of community notification within each law enforcement jurisdiction and is meant to be supplemental.

    2. Resource Information

      The District will provide a supplemental pamphlet to assist parents, students, and other members of the public with phone numbers, websites, addresses of law enforcement agencies, and other appropriate governmental organizations to provide more detail concerning sex offender/sexual predator identification.

    3. Public Posting of Sex Offender/Sexual Predator Information

      1. An information poster placed in the public area of the school will alert all members of the community that the Sheriff and/or Chief of Police has provided to the school, posters or other information concerning sex offenders, as required by law. The poster will direct members of the public to the updated binder system of offenders, which is maintained in the public area of the school office.

      2. School(s) will not display the actual posters of sex offenders/sexual predators in any area of the school.

    4. Public Meetings

      School(s) will assist law enforcement jurisdictions with public meetings with regard to community notification by providing space for the meetings when such facilities are requested of the principal. The content and general conduct of the meeting is the responsibility of the local law enforcement jurisdiction.

    5. Direct Public Notification by Schools

      1. It is the legislated responsibility of the Sheriff or Chief of Police to make direct community notification, with regard to sex offenders and/or sexual predators. In an effort to be consistent with the statute, neither the District office nor the schools will engage in direct public notification.

      2. Schools will continue to use newsletters and other informational sources to alert parents and students with regard to issues of student safety.

Technical Change 1/17/08

© Brevard County Public Schools 2008