A 37-year-old high-risk sex offender is planning to move to Albert Lea within the next two weeks upon his release from prison, police officials announced this week.

At the time of release, the Level 3 offender, Jabar Pedro Morarend, will have served his sentence imposed by the court. He is planning to move to the 1600 block of Frank Hall Drive. He has family who live in town.

Albert Lea Police Chief Dwaine Winkels said the notification of Morarend’s release is not intended to increase fear in the community, but instead to create a safer, more informed public.

Police will be holding a community notification meeting about the release at 6:30 p.m. March 12 at Crossroads Church. At the meeting there will be a panel — made up of Albert Lea Police Detective Frank Kohl and representatives from the Crime Victims Crisis Center, the Minnesota Department of Corrections and the Freeborn County Attorney’s Office — available to answer questions.

A notification fact sheet released by the Albert Lea Police Department states Morarend went to prison after he was convicted of engaging in sexual contact — including penetration — with a woman. He used force, threats and a weapon to gain compliance and gained access to the victim, who did not previously know him, by entering her home without permission, according to the notification sheet. The Northfield Police Department was the investigating agency.

Winkels said because Morarend will have served his time in prison upon his release, the Department of Corrections will have no control over where he works or lives. He will be required to register as a Level 3 sex offender. A Level 3 sex offender is someone who has a high risk of reoffending. This does not mean that they will necessarily commit a new crime, but that they are part of a group of people who are most likely to.

A Level 1 offender has a low risk of reoffending, and a Level 2 offender has a moderate risk of reoffending, Winkels said.

In Minnesota, offenders are rated based on several criteria, including the seriousness of the offense, age of the victim, prior history, number of victims, offender’s characteristics, substance abuse history and availability of community supports, he said.

Based on the ratings of the offenders, officials know what type of notification to perform when the prisoners are released.

When a Level 1 offender is released, law enforcement agencies are called and victims and witnesses may be notified.

With a Level 2 release, more people are notified, including schools, day cares and other establishments that tend to serve potential victims.

What: Level 3 sex offender community notification meeting

Why: A Level 3 sex offender will be moving to Albert Lea on March 16. Law enforcement officials and other organizations will be available at the meeting to inform the community about this individual and the sex offender registration process.

When: 6:30 p.m. March 12

Where: Crossroads Church

With a Level 3 release, the entire community is notified at a public meeting, in addition to the Level 2 notifications.

Winkels said the last time a Level 3 offender moved to Albert Lea was in 1999. At that time, police held a community notification meeting about that offender at St. Theodore Catholic Church, and 200 or 300 people attended, he said.

Kohl said people call the police department all the time, wanting police to tell them if they have a sex offender living near them. Police cannot identify exact addresses.

And in this case, it’s no different.

“We’re not trying to scare you,” Kohl said. “We’re not trying to make you run and hide.”

Instead, people should take the necessary steps to make sure their families stay safe, Kohl and Winkels said. However, this is something they should have been doing all along.

Authorities will be available at the community meeting to answer questions about safety to families.