The Associated Press
July 29, 2005

State officials expect to connect Alabama to the new National Sex Offender Public Registry within the next month, when technical links are completed.

The registry, a national database launched last week, provides public access to all participating states' lists of sex offenders in a single search. Previously, people could only search one state's registry at a time.

Alabama Public Safety Department spokeswoman Martha Ernhardt said staff members are rewriting the agency's Web site computer application for the registry, which will allow it to link to the national registry.

"Between development and programming and linking, it's taking a little bit of time," Ernhardt told The Tuscaloosa News in a story Thursday.

A Justice Department spokeswoman said the national registry, announced by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales on May 20, was launched July 20 with 21 states and the District of Columbia online. All states have committed to join the database, and Justice officials plan to have them included by the end of the year.

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