But following his release from jail, public protests kept him out of every California town in which he attempted to settle. In fact, Singleton's public rejection even forced him to live for a time in a trailer behind San Quentin Prison. And when his parole was up and he moved to Tampa, Fla., to live with his sister, neighbors threw oranges, shot BB guns, and even planted a pipe bomb in a place he was known to frequent. While some argue that keeping the whereabouts of Singleton secret would prevent such harassment and allow him a second chance at a normal life and the best chance to rehabilitate, others feel the public has every right to know if he's living next door. Public ignorance of the whereabouts of dangerous criminals may soon become rare, as technology makes information readily available.
Technology gives people the means, and they seem to be finding ways to use their access.
More and more, the public's right to know is winning the debate. From Phoenix to Nashville, these departments are going online, hoping citizens will recognize a fugitive and report his or her whereabouts. Some even offer rewards for information that may help solve a crime. In California, several new programs help inform the public. In 1995, a 900-number hotline was set up allowing residents to check if someone is a registered sex offender.