Chelan County Sheriff's Office receives $82K grant for sex offender address verification

WENATCHEE — The Chelan County Sheriff's Office has been awarded an $82,054.86 grant for the Registered Sex Offender Address Verification Program. The funds, allocated by the Washington State Legislature, will support the sheriff's office in conducting face-to-face address verifications for registered sex offenders throughout the county from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.

The grant program, established in 2010, ensures that all sex offenders and kidnapping offenders are verified at their registered addresses by the Sheriff's Office. The frequency of address verification depends on the offender's classification level, with Level I offenders verified once every 12 months, Level II offenders every six months, and Level III offenders every three months.

The Washington State Legislature has allocated a total of $9.9 million over the 2023-2025 biennium for the Registered Sex Offender Address Verification Program. The Chelan County Sheriff's Office emphasized its commitment to effectively utilizing limited resources and seeking external support for its programs.

According to the sheriff's office, securing funding such as this grant underscores their commitment to advancing their vision for a community where safety, justice, and security are assured for all. The office stated that through unwavering commitment to service, they continue to build a safer and more just community.