The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) today announced the launch of a new public service announcement designed to encourage Florida families to sign up for the Florida Offender Alert System.

The System sends e-mail alert notifications when registered sexual offenders or predators move into a neighborhood or any other location designated by the user. The 30-second public service announcement is available in English and Spanish and may be broadcast via television or radio.

“The Florida Offender Alert System is a smart and simple way for citizens to stay informed,” said FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey. “Thousands have signed up to receive these notifications but there are millions more Floridians who could also stand to benefit from this. The public service announcements will help us spread the message about this valuable service throughout the state.”

The Florida Offender Alert System is offered through FDLE’s Web site at www.flsexoffender.net and on the sites of many local law enforcement agencies. More than 56,000 individuals have signed up to receive alerts since the launch of the System in March. The system has sent more than 620,000 e-mails notifying citizens about address changes of registered sex offenders and predators.

The Florida Offender Alert System sends an e-mail alert to users when a registered sexual offender or predator moves into a neighborhood or within a radius of any other location designated, such as a school, workplace, friend or relative’s house. The system also enables citizens to receive alerts when a specific predator or offender reports a change of address.

Citizens may select an unlimited number of addresses and/or offenders and predators to track, and can update their selections at any time. The alert system will send e-mail notifications within 24 to 48 hours of an address change to the state’s registry. The service is offered at no charge.