A proposal that would increase public access to a database of registered sex offenders and another for a system to spread the word quickly when a child is abducted will be studied by county officials.
Both plans were conceived after the abduction and killing of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam last month. The decision to study them was approved unanimously yesterday by the county Board of Supervisors.
Supervisor Dianne Jacob proposed that the county's database of registered sex offenders, which is available for viewing at five locations by appointment, be put on the county's Web site.
"This is about protecting kids and making sure parents are more aware of potential dangers in their neighborhood," Jacob said.
The board voted to have county staff work with the Sheriff's Department to set up a computerized mapping system showing the approximate locations of registered sex offenders' residences.
Several speakers urged the board to improve access to the database.
"If parents don't know who the offenders are, the offenders have the advantage," said Gina Holloway, executive director of Citizens for Community Values of San Diego.
John Gibson, an El Cajon real estate agent and a director of Concerned Citizens of East County, complained that while people can view the information, they can't print out a photo to take with them and show their children. Only those 18 and older are allowed to tap into the database.
David Provost, a supervisor in the Sheriff's Department who monitors access to the sex offender database, said in an interview that Jacob's proposal would not have helped in the van Dam case because the suspect, David Westerfield, is not a registered sex offender.
People can view the sex offender database at Sheriff's Department offices in Kearny Mesa and Poway, and at police stations in downtown San Diego, La Mesa and El Cajon.
Under the state law that created the sex offender database, only California residents over age 18 or other adults who can demonstrate an urgent need to know are allowed to view the information, Provost said.
The city of Fremont has put some sex offender information on its Web site. The site provides general data about locations of known offenders and their proximity to schools and community centers, said Fremont police Detective Pat Hunt. For more specific information, such as a particular offender's picture, address or a list of past offenses, people must come to the Police Department and view the database, Hunt said.
In a related item, the board approved a proposal from Slater to study the idea of creating a countywide alert system for child kidnappings.
"Law enforcement officials agree, the sooner an alert goes out, the better chance of locating the child," Slater said.
Jonathan Heller: (619) 542-4578; jonathan.heller@uniontrib.com
