Local authorities in Missouri do not know the locations of more than 1,200 sex offenders, including nearly 800 who would be classified as the most dangerous, according to a report by the state auditor released on Monday.
Missouri law requires those convicted or found guilty of sexual offenses to register their name, address and other information with local law enforcement, the auditor’s office said. The information is made public through a database and website maintained by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
But because of local officials’ inadequate enforcement of registration requirements, 1,259 registered sex offenders failed to follow law, Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway said.