Number Of Registered Sex Offenders On The Rise In SF

SIOUX FALLS, SD -There could be a sex offender living near you and you may not even know it.  The number of sex offenders living in Sioux Falls has nearly doubled in recent years.

That’s despite changes in the law removing the youngest offenders from the nationwide sex offender registry.

In 2010, South Dakota lawmakers created a tiered registry that would remove names from the South Dakota sex offender list.

Despite those changes, the number of sex offenders checking in with law enforcement twice a year has grown significantly. And law enforcement says it’s unlikely the trend will slow down.

Detective Ron Harris’ office is one of the first you’ll find when you walk into the Sioux Falls Law Enforcement Center. That’s no accident. He’s seeing nearly 30 people on his busiest days.

“It’s going to continue to grow. It’s not going to stop,” Harris said.

He oversees the hundreds of registered sex offenders living within the city. In 2006, Harris kept in touch with fewer than 350 offenders. Today? 671.

“Some registered offenders are perfectly normal individuals. Others are predators so to be aware of where they are at is a public safety service,” Harris said.

The number of sex offenders within the city is also growing despite efforts from the South Dakota Legislature to remove some names from the lengthy list.

Four years ago, lawmakers voted to remove hundreds of people for misdemeanor indecent exposure and certain statutory rape cases.

Those are seen as less-dangerous crimes where the odds of repeating the offense are lower.

“So they actually shrunk the list but in turn it’s grown from there,” Harris said.

Harris wouldn’t speculate as to why there are more offenders in the city, he says he’s too busy for that. In the meantime, he’s just focused on keeping track of those on the growing list.

 

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