Sex offender registry Web site reactivated

MAT-SU -- The state's Sex Offender Registry Web site was reactivated at 3 p.m. Thursday, after the Alaska Department of Public Safety removed the names of individuals whose offenses were committed prior to 1994.

Commissioner Glenn G. Godfrey of the Alaska Department of Public Safety on Jan. 18 ordered the Web site off line after U.S. District Court Judge H. Russel Holland issued a preliminary injunction enjoining the state from the enforcement of the Alaska Sex Offender Registration Act against people whose crimes were committed before Aug. 10, 1994.

The Web site is now limited to information about convicted offenders who committed qualifying offenses on or after Aug. 10, 1994.

Anyone whose sex-related crimes were committed on or after Aug. 10, 1994, is still obligated to register as a sex offender and will be prosecuted for failure to register, according to a statement issued Thursday afternoon by Godfrey.

The preliminary injunction holds until the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether it will review the appeal sought by the State of Alaska Department of Law. Initially, the higher court had the Alaska case on its Feb. 15 agenda but the decision of whether or not to take up the case was postponed to today.

The Web site, http://

www.dps.state.ak.us/nSorcr/asp/, is available to the public.