Police

Sexual Predator and Offender Unit (SPO)

The Sexual Predator and Offender (SPO) Unit gathers, analyzes, disseminates and maintains investigative information on all sexual predators and sexual offenders who reside within unincorporated Miami-Dade County (MDC).  The Unit monitors the activities and addresses of these sexual predators and offenders to ensure compliance with Chapter 775, FS, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) guidelines. Additionally, the SPO Unit processes sexual predators and offenders for registration and re-registration in accordance with the Jessica Lunsford Act and the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act while taking enforcement actions when necessary to ensure compliance.  

The Unit ensures compliance with Section 775.21, FS, which requires the Department to make community notifications within 48 hours whenever a sexual predator moves to a temporary or permanent residence within a one-mile radius of any public or private school or day care facility within unincorporated MDC.  The SPO Unit also maintains several community notification programs that extend beyond statutory requirements; including the REVERSE 9∙1∙1 Interactive Community Notification System, publication of a circular in various local newspapers and a bulletin on the Miami-Dade Television channel (MDTV) informing the public of absconded and wanted sexual predators, community presentations, and the Special Victims Bureau website.  In addition, the SPO Unit handles calls received from landlords that need to verify if the nature of a particular sexual offender's crime permits them to live within 2,500 feet of a school in MDC.  The Unit then provides the results directly to landlords and/or agents representing the rental property.