CHEYENNE - Sublette, Lincoln, Carbon and Niobrara counties have completed less than half of their state-mandated risk-assessment hearings for convicted sex offenders. State officials worry this means some sex offenders likely to reoffend are not listed in online databases.

Individuals who are convicted of aggravated sex offenses are required to participate in risk assessment hearings to determine whether they pose a low, medium or high risk of reoffense. Those who are deemed "high risk" are listed on the Internet.

"For some county attorneys it's a priority to get these (risk assessment hearings) done, for others - either because of the crush of work or lack of resources - it's not a priority and they just haven't gotten it done," Attorney General Pat Crank said in an interview with The Associated Press.

The Legislature is considering a bill that would eliminate the risk assessment process because of its perceived inefficiency. Instead, House Bill 120 would require all sex offenders, regardless of risk of reoffense, to be listed in the online database, with the offender's license plate number and a list of their offenses accessible to the public.

Information provided by Bob Brackett, manager of the state sex offender registry program, shows about one in four sex offenders in the state has not had an assessment hearing. Brackett, Crank and legislators are concerned because if hearings aren't held, then some high-risk sex offenders may not be put in the online database.

"I'm sure there are folks out there who are waiting for a recidivism hearing who may be very dangerous," Crank said.

In Carbon County, only 13 of 32 (41 percent) required risk assessment hearings have been held. Carbon County Attorney Cindy DeLancey said since she took office less than six weeks ago, "it is a high priority to start holding these registration hearings on a more frequent basis in Carbon County."

"I can't comment on what happened before I got here," DeLancey said. "But I'm here now, and it's definitely a priority for me and I'm working on it."

Sublette County's statistics are even worse - only three out of 13 (23 percent) assessment hearings have been held. Mike Crosson, chief deputy county attorney, says he's aware of the problem and is actively working to fix it.

"We have don't have a sitting district court judge in Sublette, and it's an absolute nightmare," Crosson said. Crosson said neighboring county judges are very busy, and tend to only come to Sublette once a month or so to hear cases.

"They have to try to find time for our exploding caseload," Crosson said. Crosson said he believed the judges had asked the state to appoint a judge to Sublette County, but he said he doubted the state Supreme Court would approve the request.

"They'd probably have to budget at least $300,000 to do that, with judge salaries and administrative salaries and all," Crosson said. "I don't think they're really interested in doing that."

Lincoln County Attorney Eric F. Phillips took office last summer and said he noticed the county's poor performance in completing sex offender risk hearings right away. Lincoln County has completed only four out of 19 (21 percent) of the required hearings.

Phillips said he reached out for help to get the hearings done, asking the Prosecution Clinic at the University of Wyoming College of Law to aid him in researching the process.

Phillips said he also spoke to a local district court judge and told him to expect a series of risk hearings in the near future.

"Within the next month or so, hopefully we'll be completely caught up on that," Phillips said. Phillips added that his deputy county attorney is in the process of sending out letters to ensure those risk assessment hearings take place.

"There's always the potential somebody will be labeled high-risk after these hearings are done," Phillips said. "We want those people on the website so the public is aware of possible offenders and can take the necessary precautions to protect their children."

Bringing up the rear is sparsely populated Niobrara County, which has not completed any risk hearings for sex offenders. However, the county only has one or two registered sex offenders that would be required to have a hearing.

Niobrara County Attorney Doyle Davies said he was just learning about the uncompleted hearings. Davies said one of the offenders had just moved to the area, and his office hadn't yet received the paperwork. He said the other case may not even require a hearing because of technicalities regarding the offender's age.

On the Net:

Wyoming Sex Offender Registration: http://attorneygeneral.state.wy.us/dci/so/so-registration.html%und -off(%)