Task Force to Track Sex Offenders

In a program called California’s most ambitious, a new task force will closely monitor registered sex offenders in Riverside County, who number nearly 3,400.

The $5.3-million, county-funded program will comprise members of the state Justice Department, Department of Corrections, district attorney’s office, Sheriff’s Department and other local law enforcement agencies.

“If this saves just one life, if it protects just one child ... our citizens’ money will be well-spent,” said Riverside County Dist. Atty. Grover Trask at a morning news conference with dozens of state and local officials.

By joining state and local resources, the task force is a more “efficient way to provide for public safety,” Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer said. There are about 85,000 registered sex offenders statewide, he said.

The program will include five teams with investigators, probation officers and detectives each serving one part of the county, plus one administrative group to oversee registration, monitoring and forensic work to find illegal computer files. The officials will conduct surveillance on registered offenders, make any necessary arrest sweeps and notify the public about released sex offenders. Another team, suggested by county Supervisor Jeff Stone, will conduct Internet stings in attempts to catch pedophiles -- a broader group than registered offenders -- online.

Trask noted the recent success of an online sting at a Mira Loma house that ended with 49 arrests of men allegedly looking for sex with minors, made in collaboration with the Sheriff’s Department, a watchdog group and NBC’s “Dateline.”

The counties of Los Angeles, San Diego, Alameda, Santa Clara and San Mateo operate smaller programs, a state Justice Department official said.

The task force is scheduled to begin operations in September.