TYLER (KYTX) -- On Thursday and Friday, the Smith County Sheriff's Office conducted a
verification check of sex offenders who reside in the county. Of the 304
individuals who were investigated, 18 will require additional investigation and
follow up, and arrest warrants may be issued.
Officials
with the sheriff's office said that verification checks of this type are
unannounced and comprehensive.
The
check included a team of approximately 50 officers, including members of 12
different local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, which comprise a
U.S. Marshals Task Force.
"Verification
checks are conducted randomly, which sends a message to all sex offenders that
they will be arrested if they are found in violation of their probation
agreement," said Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith. "Normally, an offender has
strict rules tied to their release, which can include a specific area in which
they are allowed to and are designated to live. If they are found to be living
somewhere other than that location, or if they violate any other aspect of their
release agreement, then we take them to jail."
According
to Sheriff Smith, "It took two days to conduct this verification check, but it
took a lot of task force members hundreds of hours of planning and coordination
to make it happen. Having the right people and the right number of people
assigned to this effort was key and I am grateful to each one of them for their
hard work."
Recently,
the Smith County Sheriff's Office moved existing personnel to patrol and
extended patrol shifts to 12 hours, which will provide more deputies year round
and not just during warrant sweeps and verification checks.
"Since
extending shifts and adding deputies, I have already seen better response times
for our residents," said Sheriff Smith. "Our citizens deserve this level of law
enforcement all of the time. I believe the new patrol schedule and staffing will
continue to deliver that."
To
report information on a sex offender, call 903-590-2680.
TYLER (KYTX) -- The Smith County Sheriff's Office has completed a check of sex offenders who reside in the county. Of the 304 individuals who were investigated February 28 and March 1, 47 were non-compliant and 24 were found in violation of their probation and were taken into custody.
Officials with the sheriff's office said that verification checks of this type are unannounced and comprehensive.
The check included a team of approximately 50 officers, including members of 12 different local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, which comprise a U.S. Marshals Task Force.
"Verification checks are conducted randomly, which sends a message to all sex offenders that they will be arrested if they are found in violation of their probation agreement," said Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith. "Normally, an offender has strict rules tied to their release, which can include a specific area in which they are allowed to and are designated to live. If they are found to be living somewhere other than that location, or if they violate any other aspect of their release agreement, then we take them to jail."
According to Sheriff Smith, "It took two days to conduct this verification check, but it took a lot of task force members hundreds of hours of planning and coordination to make it happen. Having the right people and the right number of people assigned to this effort was key and I am grateful to each one of them for their hard work."
Recently, the Smith County Sheriff's Office moved existing personnel to patrol and extended patrol shifts to 12 hours, which will provide more deputies year round and not just during warrant sweeps and verification checks.
"Since extending shifts and adding deputies, I have already seen better response times for our residents," said Sheriff Smith. "Our citizens deserve this level of law enforcement all of the time. I believe the new patrol schedule and staffing will continue to deliver that."
To report information on a sex offender, call 903-590-2680.
