Date: June 23, 2008
For Immediate Release

Contact: Michael Jeandron
(951) 955-9215

DISTRICT ATTORNEY NOMINATES SAFE TEAM FOR AWARD

RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA: Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco has nominated the Riverside County Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE) task force for the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) "2008 Challenge Award." The award recognizes the innovative and creative spirit of California county government as they find new and effective ways to provide programs and services to their citizens.

The District Attorney's office and the Sheriff's Department working with other local and state law enforcement agencies developed the SAFE team to provide a comprehensive approach in identifying, monitoring and enforcing registration requirements for sexual offenders who reside in the county. Sexual predators are required by law to register their residence address with local law enforcement. Theoretically, this requirement allows law enforcement to monitor highly dangerous felons at all times. Failure to comply with this law can result in a felony violation.

The SAFE task force utilizes multi-disciplined law enforcement agencies that are geographically located in six regions throughout the county to enforce violations by sexual offenders. The team is staffed with law enforcement personnel from the Riverside County District Attorney's Office, Riverside County Sheriff's Department, Riverside County Probation Department, California State Parole, California Department of Justice, Banning Police Department and Corona Police Department.

Before the formation of the SAFE team, law enforcement agencies in Riverside County possessed minimal resources and no comprehensive plan dedicated to the identification, monitoring and enforcement of the county's 3,519 sexual offenders. Due to this fact, many sexual offenders reoffended or violated their registration requirements and their whereabouts were unknown to law enforcement thereby endangering the women and children of Riverside County.

Since November 2006, over 100 sexual predators have been criminally charged by the District Attorney's office based on the SAFE team's investigations. Most offenders prosecuted were sent to prison as a result. Overall, the SAFE team has provided an increased level of safety to the citizens, children and community by decreasing the number of non-compliant sexual offenders from 17.7% to 8.3%. The decrease equates to 361 non-compliant sexual offenders now in compliance with the registration requirement.

CSAC will announce award winners upon completion of judging in September. Award recipients will be featured on CSAC's website as well as in the annual meeting edition of California Counties magazine.