MASON CITY, IA - Many are wondering how well the sex offender registry is working after an incident where California teen, Chelsea King, is thought to be murdered by a convicted sex offender.
Her father, Brent king, is saying convicted offender John Albert Gardner III was let out of jail too soon and not properly monitored
Cerro Gordo County lieutenant Joe Hunt is talking about Iowa’s sex offender registry system
He says it's different for each state, but here in Iowa the public can go on the registry website and see the address of offenders, their pictures and what they were convicted of.
Lieutenant Hunt says he makes a point to do regular checks on offenders, in person, to make sure they are at their recorded residence. Information is continuously being updated.
"Even though he may be on the registry if he wants to do something bad enough he's going to do it and the best we can do is alert the public make sure they know who these people are who have been convicted of sexual assault or sex offenders."
Minnesota lawmakers are currently looking at Governor Tim Pawlenty's proposal to extend prison time for sex offenders.
Pawlenty's plan is asking that those convicted of first-degree sex crimes would spend 25 years in prison. Current law sets the minimum at 12 years.
Pawlenty says his plan could save hundreds of dollars a day by keeping offenders in prison instead of paying for treatment programs after prison.
