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1. Why is a sex offender moving into my community?

Unless there are court-ordered restrictions, sex offenders are constitutionally allowed to live wherever they choose. The Wells Police Department does not have the legal authority to dictate where sex offenders can live.

2. What is the Wells Police Department doing to keep my community safe from sex offenders?

The Wells Police verify home, work, and school addresses of all sex offenders in our community. We obtain current photographs and fingerprints for resident sex offenders. That information is shared with the State of Maine Sex Offender Registry to keep the registry up to date. We also do community notifications.

3. What is community notification, how is it done, and for which offenders?

Our community notifications involve the distribution of a bulletin when registered sex offenders move, work, or attend school in our community. The bulletin is distributed by hand to residents within approximately ¼ mile from the sex offender’s place of residence, work, or school. Additionally, we post the bulletin at public locations around Wells and maintain an email distribution list for those interested.

4. Which offenders are required to register, and for how long?

The State of Maine categorizes sex offenders as either 10 year registrants or lifetime registrants based on the amount of time they are required to be on the registry. Lifetime registrants are those who have been convicted of a sexually violent offense or have multiple convictions for a sex offense or offense that includes the essential elements of a sex offense or sexually violent offense. A 10 year registrant is a person who has been convicted of a sex offense.

5. If the offender is dangerous, why is he or she being released to the community?

Sex offenders and other criminals have always lived in our communities often without us being aware of their existence or criminal history. Offenders listed on the Maine Sex Offender Registry have all served the sentence required by the court system and are released under the supervision of law enforcement, corrections personnel, and the Maine Sex Offender Registry.

6. What can I do to protect my family?

Parents and guardians should be aware of grooming behaviors exhibited by known or unknown sex offenders. Grooming behaviors are actions deliberately undertaken with the goal of befriending a child in order to lower a child’s sexual inhibitions or establish an intimate friendship in preparation for the eventual act of sexual intercourse with the child.

Maintain open lines of communication with your children.

Share safety tips with your children, including Internet safety.

Query the Maine Sex Offender Registry periodically to identify registered sex offenders in your community. Additional queries can be made of the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Registry.

Statistics indicate that 90 percent of all sex crimes are committed by someone known to the victim, such as a family member or acquaintance.

7. What can I do if I observe a sex offender behaving suspiciously around children?

Report suspicious activity to the Wells Police Department.