Source: Nebraskans Unafraid
Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson’s recent announcement of a new “investigator” position tasked with verifying the addresses of people on Nebraska’s sex offender registry might make headlines, but it won’t make our communities safer.
It’s an initiative based on optics rather than outcomes, intended to project action, not produce impact.
Instead of allocating taxpayer-funded resources toward a symbolic gesture with no measurable public safety benefits, the sheriff’s office could be focusing on evidence-based strategies that truly prevent crime, protect vulnerable populations, and build community trust.
Below are several alternatives that deserve serious consideration.
1. Invest in Solving Violent Crime
According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program, violent crime clearance rates remain stubbornly low in many jurisdictions. Douglas County is no exception.
Resources used to check the addresses of registered individuals, most of whom are fully compliant and pose no ongoing threat, could instead be directed toward improving the investigation and clearance of crimes like:
Homicide
Sexual assault
Aggravated assault
Solving violent crime deters future offenders far more effectively than confirming the residence of someone who committed a crime 15 or more years ago and has followed every legal rule since.
2. Expand Mental Health Crisis Response Teams
One of the most effective ways to prevent tragic outcomes during police interactions is to pair officers with trained and trusted mental health professionals.
Models like Crisis Intervention Teams (CITs) and co-responder programs have been successful across…
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