State Plans Hot Line to Identify Molesters

SACRAMENTO — Parents who worry that convicted child molesters may have access to their children can, starting Monday, call a 900 telephone number operated by the state Department of Justice.

The hot line enables parents to find out if someone they suspect has been convicted of molestation.

“Let’s say your son or your daughter is coached by a swimming coach,” said Sandy Friedman of the Polly Klaas Foundation, which was set up in memory of the slain Petaluma girl. “What do you know about that person? Not much.

“This gives you a vehicle to find out,” Friedman said.

But civil rights advocates fear that people may abuse the hot line and take the law into their own hands. “We don’t like it,” said Valerie Small Navarro of the American Civil Liberties Union. “Because we feel that even if you were a sex offender, you do your time. You’ve paid your debt to society.

“You could have committed the act 20 years ago, but it’s going to follow you the rest of your life,” Navarro said.

The number is (900) 463-0400 and the cost is $10 for two queries.

Callers will be asked to provide the name of the suspected molester, along with identifying information such as a driver’s license number, date of birth, Social Security number or a physical description.

“What we want to avoid as much as humanly possible is misidentifying somebody,” said Michael Van Winkle, spokesman for the state attorney general’s office.

All police departments will also be provided with a directory of repeat child molesters and their photos. The directory will be available to the public.