felonspy.com is an interesting Google maps mashup which allows you to specify an address and receive a map containing pin pointed locations of any one individual with a criminal record. The site tracks sex offenders, ex cons and even people with traffic infractions (depending on the severity of the infraction).

felonspy gets their mapping information from a variety of sources, some online and some not. The FAQ’s section of this site is bizarre and the answers to some of the questions are even more bizarre. For example one question asks:

I want to kill someone, should I use this database as a guideline?
No you shouldn’t, mostly. Killing would make you a criminal as well and there are other sites similar to ours that also track everyone who has even been accused of a crime. If that was okay actions to take, people would be hunting you before you know it, and that doesn’t help anyone. Yelling obscenities isn’t a bad idea though, that’s just a misdemeanor in most places.

Or what about this question:

Can I help by suggesting someone who needs to be listed?
Yes you can! Just use our contact page, and we’ll get them added in a hot hurry. Usually we verify it, but usually we don’t have the needed time or resources to insure it is valid. Please use this tool with honesty and integrity.

While this seems like an interesting idea, it also seems really creepy to me, after all take a look at the first paragraph of their name removal policy:

“I’m sorry if you believe a name has been added to our database in error, but our data for this area shows on cross-check as being perfectly current. If a name needs to be removed, it will happen on its own, and there is nothing you can do about it. There are no mistakes in this site, and if you think there is, you’re probably the exact sort of criminal we all need to beware of.“

I can smell lawsuits galore as people suggest other people who haven’t even committed a crime, it doesn’t seem like felonspy goes out of their way very much to “verify” submissions… at least according to their answer to the frequently asked questions above.