We provide services and information to people living in the greater Fort Worth, Texas area who are required to register with the State of Texas due to having been convicted of a sexual offense. By consolidating information about employment, housing, treatment programs, non-profit organizations, and other state services in a single location, we hope to help people get back on their feet and become valued and productive members of society again. Studies show that recidivism is greatly reduced when opportunities to succeed are made readily accessible.
By providing a platform for people who must register with the state, we hope to inspire them to use their voices to help others in similar situations. Different people will have had different experiences, and this is a source of knowledge that can only be tapped by facilitating communication. Some people may not know where to start looking for housing, employment, or where to go to get living assistance. This is where our platform comes in: questions can be asked and answered in a safe and judgment-free environment.
We do recognize that some members of the public may be uncomfortable with the idea of a website for “sex offenders” to communicate with each other. It is for this reason that we also grant access to the platform to parole and probation officers, licensed therapists who offer treatment programs, and to clergy from ministries who specialize in assisting those who have been convicted of criminal offenses. By doing so, we maintain transparency with the state and show that we have nothing to hide.
Transparency however, does not mean that we must allow access to everyone. In order to ensure that our platform remains a safe place for registered persons to find the help they need to succeed in society, account access will remain tightly controlled. It is an unfortunate truth that registered persons face threats of violence and blackmail / extortion. Malicious acts against anyone who uses our platform will not be tolerated and will be referred to law enforcement.
Accountability is a vital part of preventing recidivism and being productive members of society. Having parole / probation officers, therapists, and clergy as active participants on our platform allows them to provide guidance and intervention before a situation escalates into a violation. People on the state registry also have an interest in “policing their own”, so they have been known to provide peer-to-peer accountability much like an AA or NA sponsor.
