Approximately 94% of registered sex offenders in Yolo County were found to be in compliance with their sex offender registration requirements during a recent check conducted by over 80 law enforcement personnel.
Created over 14 years ago, Operation Vigilance was started with the goal of protecting Yolo County citizens by ensuring that those who must register as sex offenders are complying with all laws and applicable parole or probation directives, according to a press release from the Yolo County District Attorney's Office.
On Nov. 14 and 15, compliance checks and address verifications were conducted on over 300 registered sex offenders.
"Many of the individuals who are required to register were previously convicted of rape, child molestation or possession of child pornography," said the press release. "Law enforcement personnel went to the residence on file of every registered sex offender with a physical address in Yolo County."
Personnel from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Davis Police Department, Yolo County Probation Department, Woodland Parole Unit, California Department of Justice Human Trafficking and Sexual Predator Apprehension Team, Sutter County Probation, US courts Federal Probation, US Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, West Sacramento Police Department, Yolo County District Attorney's Criminal Investigation Bureau, Yolo County Sheriff's Office and the Woodland Police Department participated in this joint operation.
District Attorney Jeff Reisig praised the efforts of all Yolo County law enforcement agencies who continuously monitor these individuals.
"We conducted a compliance check of 100% of the sex offenders that have a permanent address, and the good news is that 94% were in compliance," Reisig said. "Operation Vigilance continues to serve as an additional deterrent to those who must register as sex offenders who may be prone to re-offend."
While officers make the home visits, forensic examiners search computers, smartphones and other digital storage devices for potential violations. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation provided 11 K9 Officers with canines trained specifically to detect electronics to enhance these searches. During the operation, 80 electronic devices were searched, and an additional eight electronic items were seized for further forensic examination.
Additional investigation by law enforcement will be conducted for those not in compliance. Three offenders on parole were arrested during this operation for parole violations and fresh charges which included possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition and possession of a large capacity magazine.
Operation Vigilance followed the Yolo County District Attorney's Office and West Sacramento Police Department's participation in Operation Trick or Treat, a collaboration of regional Law Enforcement Agencies that ran separate operations to combat sex trafficking. On Oct. 24, a one-day operation was conducted in Yolo County which targeted sex purchasers in an effort to combat human trafficking in the area. The Yolo County operation resulted in the arrest of five individuals for solicitation of prostitution.
"Collaborative efforts among policing agencies are key to keeping our communities safe," said West Sacramento Police Chief Rob Strange. "Despite struggles with staffing at so many policing agencies, our region remains steadfast in its focus on known offenders—especially those who have demonstrated predatory behaviors."
Compliance checks in 2022 saw 95% of registered sex offenders in compliance. One offender on probation and two offenders on parole were unable to be contacted during the operation as a result of their removal of GPS monitoring devices, resulting in warrants for their arrest.
In 2021, 15 were not in compliance with their registration, one was found in possession of child pornography and one was arrested for violation of parole conditions related to his online activity.
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