Concern about Area Sex Offender Stats (San Antonio, Keller: rentals, sex offenders, crime)

[UIWNewbie]

My family and I are relocating from eastern Tennessee to the 78213 area of San Antonio. Just found our rental house, a house we really like (from a distance at least). While searching for information on utilities, I came across a sex offender database via the City-Data.com website and found that this area of San Antonio we're moving into seems to be slightly higher than other areas. Looking across the map, it looks like there are clusters of areas where these offenders live and that our location may be in/near one of those clusters.

Can anyone tell me if this area is particularly bad or dangerous compared to other areas? I just want to know if I should be so concerned that I should back out of the rental agreement and look elsewhere.

The area is in the 78213 zipcode just about two miles north of Balcones Heights and just east of 410.

Thanks in advance for your insights and calming words of wisdom.

[L210]

There are a lot of cheap rentals in that area for a reason. I never really paid much attention to how many sex offenders are in that area, but I know of problems with other types of crime.

[BestintheWest]

go here and enter the state then the zip, careful you may be shocked

National Sex Offender Registry - Family Watchdog

[ashbeeigh]

I just moved to the area in March (Jackson Keller and 410) and while I don't feel as safe as I did when I lived in 78249, I feeler safer than I did in 78207. That might not give you too much perspective, but that's how I see it.

[Azure110]

I think one thing to look at is the nature of the sex crime of those around the area you plan to live in. Many of those labeled sex offenders are not what I would consider a true sex offender like the teenager getting caught texting naked pictures and was turned in. You see this type of stuff on the news from time to time.

If the registry would offer more details of the crime, I feel you could make a better decision where to live.

[BestintheWest]

Originally Posted by MattTx

I think one thing to look at is the nature of the sex crime of those around the area you plan to live in. Many of those labeled sex offenders are not what I would consider a true sex offender like the teenager getting caught texting naked pictures and was turned in. You see this type of stuff on the news from time to time.

If the registry would offer more details of the crime, I feel you could make a better decision where to live.

the registry does just that, sign in, click on the icon, takes you to the offender, picture, date and crime

[L210]

Originally Posted by aliveandwellinSA

go here and enter the state then the zip, careful you may be shocked

National Sex Offender Registry - Family Watchdog

It's better to use the official Texas website which is much better at filtering by zip code.
https://records.txdps.state.tx.us/SexOffender/

I've found that people get confused when using the Family Watchdog website. When you search by zip code on there, results for surrounding zip codes show up. So, instead of people getting the information that there are a dozen or so sex offenders in a zip code, they assume that there are close to 100. Now that I look at the website, the search function has gotten worse. When I search 78217, it says that there are 966 sex offenders in the area. Of course there are when you combine the whole NE side from 281 to IH 10 E and from outside 1604 to near downtown.

[elnina]

Originally Posted by MattTx

I think one thing to look at is the nature of the sex crime of those around the area you plan to live in. Many of those labeled sex offenders are not what I would consider a true sex offender like the teenager getting caught texting naked pictures and was turned in. You see this type of stuff on the news from time to time.

If the registry would offer more details of the crime, I feel you could make a better decision where to live.

I agree with that. Many of the sex "offenders" were not really offenders at all. Registries tend to treat all sex offenders the same way, without reference to the severity of their offenses. Some were just foolish teenagers, but the law made them criminals and branded them as such for life.
Sex Offender: Branded for Life
The fact is that most sex offenses take place in or near one's home and that only 7% involve strangers.
Also contrary to widespread public opinion, once-caught sex offenders have a very low recidivism rate.

[Bo]

Sex offender laws prevent the convicted from living within a certain distance from schools, so that concentrates them into areas that aren't close to schools. As others pointed out above, it doesn't mean those areas are more dangerous. It does mean they aren't convenient to schools.

[todd00]

Originally Posted by L210

It's better to use the official Texas website which is much better at filtering by zip code.
https://records.txdps.state.tx.us/SexOffender/

I've found that people get confused when using the Family Watchdog website. When you search by zip code on there, results for surrounding zip codes show up. So, instead of people getting the information that there are a dozen or so sex offenders in a zip code, they assume that there are close to 100. Now that I look at the website, the search function has gotten worse. When I search 78217, it says that there are 966 sex offenders in the area. Of course there are when you combine the whole NE side from 281 to IH 10 E and from outside 1604 to near downtown.

When I ran the 78217 zip on the TXDPS site it showed 47. So maybe there was a glitch in the system when you checked the site. Only one perv in the area I used to live in. Most of these people seem to be unemployed so they must be living with friends or family or doing some criminal stuff to get money. 78213 showed 51.

It's true there are some that fall into the category that should not labeled the same as true sexual predators. There was a recent case in Wisconsin like that. Labeling some teen for life for having a relationship with a girl a couple years younger, thats different than the serial molester types. I feel molesting a child should get the death sentence, not just a grazing period in prison with full medical benefits at the taxpayers expense. That is not justice, and what they have taken from the victim can't be undone. Someplace in Florida was it, they had a sign posted in front of the sex offenders house. I kinda like that idea. They should have it tattooed across their forehead. When I read some of the sentences given it makes me angry.

Elnina, as far as that article you posted, the guy is lucky his friend didn't kill him. Groping his friends 14 year old daughter, I think his sentence was pretty light actually. Then he whines because he is now the subject of ridicule, well so he should be. I have no sympathy for him at all. He put himself in the situation he is in. Should others not know he has a past of this nature. If you had kids would you want to live next to him, I sure as hell wouldn't. It's the publics right to know, its about keeping other kids safe.

OP, These days you have to be alert and careful no matter how safe the area is perceived to be. These folks aren't locked into one zip code, they move freely around the city. Watch the spot crime map for crime in the area, contact the police and ask them about the area, look at the immediate area with google street view maps. You do plan to see the area in person before taking the house?

You may have already seen this, but I'll add it anyway. Good luck.
http://www.city-data.com/zips/78213.html