Shreveport Police Dept.

Date: April 10, 2006

Phone: 318/673-6932 Fax: 318/673-6933

Contact: Kacee Hargrave, Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

10 take advantage if SOAP

Unregistered sex offenders have until Friday to come clean in the SOAP program (see below). So far, 10 people have taken advantage of the amnesty period. After Friday, violators will be arrested.

Police targeting unregistered sex offenders

Shreveport Police Department is hoping that sex offenders will “come clean” with the Sex Offender Amnesty Program (SOAP) that kicks off today.

Beginning now until May 5, sex offenders will be granted “amnesty” if they register with the Shreveport Police Department. If they have not registered beyond that deadline, they will be sought and arrested for non-compliance.

Approximately 150 people are estimated to have not complied with the requirements of sex offender registration - either because they do not realize they need to do so, or that they simply refuse to comply.

Non-registered offenders can be fined up to $1,000 or imprisoned for one to five years upon a first conviction. The penalty for a second conviction is a maximum $2,000 fine and three to 10 years in prison.

Registration can be done between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. weekdays. Between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., offenders will need to report to the Investigations Office in Room No. 1 at the Shreveport Police Department, 1234 Texas Avenue. After 5 p.m., registration will take place at the Patrol Desk, which is located on the Texas Avenue side of the building.

Registrants will need:

1) A photo ID

2) Two proofs of residency (such as lease papers, a water bill, phone bill, bank statement, etc)

3) a $60 money order

5) Probation and Parole papers (if applicable)

Residents with questions about compliance or the sex offender registry process can call 673-6978.

-spd-

View all SPD press releases at www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/spdnews