Agenda Date: 01/21/2020
Subject:
Title
Resolution 03-2020: Approving an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) and the Littleton Police Department (LPD) for the SOTAR™ web-based sex offender management system
Body
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Prepared by: |
Doug Stephens, Chief of Police |
PURPOSE:
The LPD has used the SOTAR™ system since 2012. The system is a web-based interactive software program designed to manage and exchange information regarding sex offenders who reside or work in the City of Littleton and surrounding areas. This IGA details the terms of use for the SOTAR™ system.
PRESENTATIONS:
Staff Presenter(s): Doug Stephens, Chief of Police
Additional Presenter(s): N/A
SUMMARY:
The City of Littleton is required by state law to monitor convicted sex offenders subject to statutory requirements to register their residences and/or place of employment with local law enforcement. In addition, the city is required, through the LPD, to provide this information to the public upon request. The LPD has utilized a web-based sex offender management program called SOTAR™ since 2012 to document all required information. The system allows for the dual purpose of sharing secure information between law enforcement agencies and providing access to the public for all information required by law.
The SOTAR™ system is owned and managed by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. It is utilized by numerous law enforcement agencies throughout the state to properly manage sex offender information within their jurisdictions. This IGA details the terms of use, including annual cost for participating agencies, to utilize the SOTAR™ system.
PRIOR ACTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS:
City council approved the original SOTAR™ IGA in 2012 and an amendment to that IGA in 2016. The proposed IGA will replace the original, as amended, IGA.
ANALYSIS:
Staff Analysis
Approximately 80 registered sex offenders are actively managed by the LPD through the SOTAR™ system. The LPD is required by state statute to monitor these offenders by verifying their residence and/or place of employment. This information must also be provided to the public upon request. SOTAR™ provides the public the ability to access this information real time.
The SOTAR™ system allows LPD personnel to share information with the public, and with other law enforcement agencies, allowing for more efficient and effective management of convicted sex offenders in Littleton. The system is a valuable tool for law enforcement and provides easily accessible information to the public related to sex offenders.
Council Goal, Objective, and/or Guiding Principle
Maintaining a safe community.
Fiscal Impacts
Use of the SOTAR™ system has historically been free to participating agencies; however, the system has grown significantly and is now the primary sex offender management tool for the metro region, requiring regular software updates and maintenance. These costs had been absorbed by the DCSO but are now cost prohibitive for that agency alone. The IGA details a tiered cost-sharing plan based on jurisdiction population. For Littleton, the annual cost will be $2,000 per year for a population under 50,001. The LPD has existing funding in its approved 2020 budget to cover this expense.
Alternatives
The LPD could utilize the state-wide sex offender list managed by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for no cost. This list meets minimum statutory requirements for public information however the information provided is more limited and less user-friendly than the SOTAR™ system. In addition, CBI does not offer the additional tools for law enforcement sharing of detailed information related to sex offenders in the community.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the resolution approving an IGA between the DCSO and the LPD for the SOTAR™ web-based sex offender management system be approved.
PROPOSED MOTION:
Proposed Motion
I move to approve the resolution approving an Intergovernmental Agreement between the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Littleton Police Department for the SOTAR™ web-based sex offender management system.