Whether they are on the social network or not, New York's convicted sex offenders have de facto Facebook profiles, as the state has released a Facebook app that gives access to its sex offender registry.

Parents now have another tool to learn where offenders live so they can ensure their children stay away from those locations, as well as strangers' homes, said DCJS Acting Commissioner Sean M. Byrne. The Facebook app puts that important information at parents' fingertips, whether they are at home or on the go.

The app lists detailed information about Level 2 (medium risk) and Level 3 offenders, representing 19,848 of the state's 32,994 sex offenders. It allows users to search by last name, county or zip code, and provides the convict's photo, name, address, a physical description and details regarding his or her arrest.

The state's Division of Criminal Justice Services released the app in time for Halloween, allowing parents to know which neighborly doors should be avoided.

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