PUBLIC NOTIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

A public notification system includes a first database comprising phone numbers and one or more data fields associated with each phone number. Phone numbers (callees) in the first database are selected based on the data fields associated therewith. A recorded voice message is transmitted to callees through a plurality of outgoing phone lines, and callees are prompted to enter one of several dial codes, which is recorded. The database record for the callee is automatically updated based on the response dial code, so that the updated field may be used to select whether to send a future call to the callee. A second database comprising records identifying convicted criminals is also included in the public notification system. Each record in the second database comprises one or more data fields associated with a convicted criminal. If the callee's dial code response indicates an interest in receiving information about convicted criminals, future calls will be made to the callee concerning the existence of convicted criminals in a particular geographic area of interest to the callee.