DAVENPORT, Iowa (KWQC) – Sex offenders in Scott County were surprised to hear police knocking on their door this week.

Agencies conducted a mass sweep, checking dozens of registered offenders.

Law enforcement agencies across Scott County partnered to check on hundreds of sex offenders at a time as part of the annual roundup.

TV6 Investigates was given exclusive access to film the checks.

Scott County Sheriff’s Deputy Capt. Dan Furlong said knocks let criminals know they are constantly being watched.

“We can keep track of them better and let them know we’re there to make sure they’re compliant,” he said.

“We don’t want any crimes to be committed in the future and we don’t want any potential new victims.”

According to data from the state of Iowa, it is rare for sex offenders to commit new crimes; Less than 4% reoffend. Experts say this is likely due to surveillance of sex offenders.

But for Scott County Sheriff Tim Lane, that number is too high. He pointed to the killing of Breasia Terrell, a 10-year-old Davenport girl who authorities believe was sexually assaulted before being killed by a registered sex offender in 2020.

“Not every sex offender does something like this,” Lane said. “But who knows which sex offender would do this and whether they would violate themselves to have sex with a child?

“They are a danger to society. They are a danger to children and they need to be monitored.”

Federal data analyzed by TV6 Investigations paints a picture of the typical sex offender. Most whites are US citizens. The average age is 38. 64% have no history.

Nearly half of federally convicted sex offenders are on the registry for child pornography; 16 percent involved sexual intercourse with the victim.

Iowa’s registry was created in 1995.

“This is based on a law written in blood, and that is the blood of children,” Lane said.

Sheriff’s deputies use a database to map and track criminals.

They know where they need to be and who they are allowed to contact. They know many of them face to face.

“It’s a pretty normal, routine part of the day-to-day operations that we do,” Furlong said. “We are receiving emails from the state and contact from the public about new crimes potentially committed or attempted by individuals on the registry.”

There are 506 registered sex offenders in Scott County; There are 334 in Rock Island County.

Both Illinois and Iowa make it easier to track sex offenders. Search for criminals in your area iowasaxoffender.org. You can get the same information for Illinois: isp.illinois.org.

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