45-33-49 - Disclosure to public; notification of schools and day care centers; guidelines for sheriffs as to notification; maintenance of records.
§ 45-33-49. Disclosure to public; notification of schools and day care centers; guidelines for sheriffs as to notification; maintenance of records.
(1) Records maintained pursuant to this chapter shall be open to law enforcement agencies which shall be authorized to release relevant and necessary information regarding sex offenders to the public.
(2) The identity of a victim of an offense that requires registration under this chapter shall not be released.
(3) A sheriff shall maintain records for registrants of the county and shall make available to any person upon request the name, address, place of employment, crime for which convicted, date and place of conviction of any registrant, and any other information deemed necessary for the protection of the public. The sheriffs shall be responsible for verifying their respective registries annually against the department's records to ensure current information is available at both levels.
(4) Upon written request, the department may also provide to any person the name, address, photograph, if available, date of photograph, place of employment, crime for which convicted, date and place of conviction of any registrant, hair, eye color, height, race, sex and date of birth of any registrant, and any other information deemed necessary for the protection of the public. Additionally, the department may utilize an internet web site or other electronic means to release the information.
(5) The Department of Education, the Mississippi Private School Association and the Department of Health shall notify all schools and licensed day care centers annually regarding the availability upon request of this information.
(6) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent law enforcement officers from notifying members of the public exposed to danger of any circumstances or individuals that pose a danger under circumstances that are not enumerated in this section.
(7) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent law enforcement officers from providing community notification of any circumstances or individuals that pose or could pose a danger under circumstances that are not enumerated in this chapter.
Sources: Laws, 2000, ch. 499, § 15; Laws, 2001, ch. 500, § 11, eff from and after July 1, 2001.