[lady cop]

i get a LOT of questions from my non-law enforcement friends, the public and even here at Forum Garden about how to protect ourselves against predators of all types. so i thought it might be helpful to offer some basic information i hope will be useful to someone reading here. you have the absolute right to any and all public information, i.e., criminal records and sex offenders registries. first, be an informed citizen in your state. go online and find your police or sheriff dept. website. it will give you the option of reading the wanted "posters" and the sex offenders registry. with booking photos. also, if you are considering renting to someone, call your local jail booking dept. and find out if they have a criminal record. you don't need to pay a PI to do this. but do have a birth date or SS number, the more info the better. if the booking dept. is busy, be polite and call back later. do not let them tell you they can't give the information. that's not true, it's just that booking gets slammed. this goes for prospective boyfriends or girlfriends. may sound less than romantic, but better to know the truth. i encourage people to check out those who may have access to their lives or children. it's not a leave-it-to-beaver world anymore, cons are everywhere... and PLEASE check out child caregivers and elderly caregivers. abuse of the elderly is RAMPANT! whether physical or financial abuse, they are particularly vulnerable.