Mobile Technology

Pinpoint unsavory elements in your neighborhood with the Criminal Tracker app

Pinpoint unsavory elements in your neighborhood with the Criminal Tracker app
U.S. Publications Inc has released an app for iOS devices called Criminal Tracker, which tracks and identifies the location of criminals such as sex offenders within a 40 mile radius of a given area
U.S. Publications Inc has released an app for iOS devices called Criminal Tracker, which tracks and identifies the location of criminals such as sex offenders within a 40 mile radius of a given area
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U.S. Publications Inc has released an app for iOS devices called Criminal Tracker, which tracks and identifies the location of criminals such as sex offenders within a 40 mile radius of a given area
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U.S. Publications Inc has released an app for iOS devices called Criminal Tracker, which tracks and identifies the location of criminals such as sex offenders within a 40 mile radius of a given area

U.S. Publications Inc says that a study by the U.S. Department of Justice has revealed that sex offenders are four times more likely to re-offend than other convicted criminals, and that 60% of convicted sex offenders are out on parole or probation. Playing on the fear that there could well be just such a person living secretly in your neighborhood, the company has announced a new app that's said to be capable of pointing out the location of such undesirables within a 40 mile (64 km) radius of a given area. The Criminal Tracker app doesn't limit its results to sex offenders, however, as the company's database is claimed to be the most comprehensive National Criminal Index available.

The Criminal Tracker app is currently only available for iPhone, iPad or iPod touch users. Once downloaded onto the iDevice, a user would enter a zip code and mile range. The app then presents a map with pushpins showing the locations of convicted criminals in the chosen area, along with name and address details. The first three searches are free, after which users can top up available look-ups from US$0.99. The technology is supported by online offender search portal PublicData.com, which also powers the site CriminalCheck.com.

Law enforcement agencies in the U.S. have been required to record information on the whereabouts of sex offenders since the mid 1990s under regulations known as Megan's Law. Information from the register is already freely available to the public courtesy of the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website from the Department of Justice.

The Criminal Tracker app is said to expand the neighborhood search beyond the provision of location data on sex offenders only – it's also claimed to offer intelligence on other undesirables in the search radius, that we might want to know about. U.S. Publications Inc states that the company works closely with law enforcement to ensure that its offender database is kept up to date, although there doesn't appear to be any independent information available to verify accuracy.

Source: Criminal Tracker

U.S. Publications Inc says that a study by the U.S. Department of Justice has revealed that sex offenders are four times more likely to re-offend than other convicted criminals, and that 60% of convicted sex offenders are out on parole or probation. Playing on the fear that there could well be just such a person living secretly in your neighborhood, the company has announced a new app that's said to be capable of pointing out the location of such undesirables within a 40 mile (64 km) radius of a given area. The Criminal Tracker app doesn't limit its results to sex offenders, however, as the company's database is claimed to be the most comprehensive National Criminal Index available.

The Criminal Tracker app is currently only available for iPhone, iPad or iPod touch users. Once downloaded onto the iDevice, a user would enter a zip code and mile range. The app then presents a map with pushpins showing the locations of convicted criminals in the chosen area, along with name and address details. The first three searches are free, after which users can top up available look-ups from US$0.99. The technology is supported by online offender search portal PublicData.com, which also powers the site CriminalCheck.com.

Law enforcement agencies in the U.S. have been required to record information on the whereabouts of sex offenders since the mid 1990s under regulations known as Megan's Law. Information from the register is already freely available to the public courtesy of the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website from the Department of Justice.

The Criminal Tracker app is said to expand the neighborhood search beyond the provision of location data on sex offenders only – it's also claimed to offer intelligence on other undesirables in the search radius, that we might want to know about. U.S. Publications Inc states that the company works closely with law enforcement to ensure that its offender database is kept up to date, although there doesn't appear to be any independent information available to verify accuracy.

Source: Criminal Tracker

19 comments
19 comments
Michael Martell
I am concerned that this application, while being presented with good intentions, means a map to the doorstep of people already likely to be targets for revenge. Online postings of Sex Offender registries have been implicated in several cases of attacks. A recent application called "Girls Near Me" was removed from the app store after people pointed out that it could easily be used to provide all the information necessary for stalking an unsuspecting stranger. My concern is that without any verification from law enforcement and the simplicity of tracking someone that can be easily targeted by someone with strong opinions about the subject of their actions, that this provides a very significant potential for misuse.
Mr Stiffy
Hmmm I like the "we are better than you" approach to vigilantisim.
70% of shop lifting is done by married white women in their mid 30's - they are sneak thiefs - 90% who reoffend regularly.
No app for that.
Scion
This app seems a little creepy. It also seems a little unfair and unnecessary. I doubt for example that it differentiates between serial child rapists and the drunk guy caught pissing behind the bushes in the park on his way home from the pub. I can only imagine this sort of app causing undue alarm and distress. Perhaps we need an app that pinpoints serial liars who claim to have never done anything wrong and who have never hurt another person or stolen anything ever. I think that database would be much smaller and faster to query. start casting your stones all you sin free people.
Paul Smith
Oh great, an app to promote criminal activity, vigilantism.
MasterG
Fantastic! Now fast forward to a big brother future where all your neighbors come over with pitch forks and torches cos you took out your gps tracking id implant, or they send darpas new terminator droids to correct your malfunction. I closed my fb account for exactly this kinda reason cos it basically says that even if you did something wrong you will always be a criminal. There are better solutions than fear
RAMLOT
This app is terrible and feeds into the paranoia about Sex Offenders. In the US they tried to use the Sex Offender laws to stop teenage pregnancy. They labeled high school teenage couples sex offenders and even after the state laws changed (because it didn't work) the US Federal system will not take them off the list for life.
There are 1000's of high school couples in every US state that got pregnant, got married and 10 years later and 3 kids later Daddy (and Mommy) is a Registered Sex Offender and the kids and their school mates are told this by their school teachers.
The real pedophiles are laughing at all of us.
rik.warren
This is not new. It has been available in several guises for years. There are app which even text you if you are within a set radius from the offenders address. The problem (beyond that of vigilantism and lumping two teenagers who had sex in with pederasts) is the solutions are unworkable. Because of the laxity in definition of what a sex offender is, they are everywhere. My neighborhood, Urban and Rich, has at least a dozen within a square mile. Any automated notification system become a major nuisance and data hog.
StWils
This bad idea will simply and rapidly enable more pinheads like Zimmerman in Florida to stalk and confront anyone they imagine to be a threat. This App might as well have an additional button to speed apply for NRA membership. May be it could have advertising links to ammo & gun toy makers to generate some revenue.
MasterG
May God almighty free america from the fearmongers and may she once again be the land of the free AMEN. This is just another control through fear device. Be hyper vigilant, be extra cautious be AFRAID cos everywhere you look, every move you make theres something to be afraid of. Sorry cant get take out tonight honey cos theres sex offenders EVERYWHERE.
Facebook User
What's the use of an application like this? We rub elbows with criminals every day, unwittingly invite them into our homes to perform services, and work alongside them. When arrested and convicted, the so called justice system just slaps their wrists and sends them back out amongst us. So what if I find out that a sex offender, or other convicted felon lives next door? How is that going to help me?
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