Sex Offender Registry Offers Updated Info
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Anyone who would like to know if a sex offender is living in their neighborhood has a useful tool as close as their fingertips - or at least the nearest computer.
By visiting www.indianasheriffs.org, those who are interested can find out if there is a registered offender in their area with just a few clicks of the mouse, thanks to Zachary's Law, which took effect just more than two years ago.
Zachary's Law was named for 10-year-old Zachary Snider of Cloverdale. He was murdered by a convicted child molester in 1993. The law took effect Jan. 1, 2003.
"The Sheriff's Association took over and helps administer (the Web site) for the state," said Charlene Johnson of the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department. "Each county has its own Web page. People can look up (offenders) by name or by county/location."
The law requires sheriff's departments throughout Indiana to create and maintain a sex offender registry, but many people are not aware that the registry exists.
The registry contains information such as the identity, location and description of people who register as sex offenders or violent offenders.
If a convicted offender moves into a new county, he/she is required to contact the sheriff's department, get a packet and fill out paperwork within seven days. Once the information is received, the offender's photo is taken and added to the Web site as soon as possible.
"A person may not live in the county, but if they work here, they must register here, too," said Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine. "If they go to school in a county, they are supposed to register in that county as well."
Anyone convicted of rape, criminal deviate conduct, child molesting, child exploitation, vicarious sexual gratification, child solicitation, sexual misconduct with a minor (as a Class A, B or C felony), incest, sexual battery, kidnapping (if the victim is under 18 years old) or criminal confinement (if the victim is under 18), must register with the sheriff's department in the county they live in. If the offender works or goes to school in a county other than the one he/she lives in, he/she must register in that county as well.
The existing entries in the registry are updated with mailings on a yearly basis. However, if an offender's information changes, he/she is encouraged to contact the sheriff's department as soon as possible.
Sometimes updated information is not immediately available on the Web site, but anyone who wants the most current information is always welcome to call the sheriff's department at 574-267-5667 and ask for Charlene Johnson.
"We try to keep it updated, but sometimes there are computer system problems," said Johnson. "It doesn't always show updates in a timely fashion."
"All the information is here (at the sheriff's department)," said Rovenstine. "We don't control the Web site, but we update information for people who want it." [[In-content Ad]]
Anyone who would like to know if a sex offender is living in their neighborhood has a useful tool as close as their fingertips - or at least the nearest computer.
By visiting www.indianasheriffs.org, those who are interested can find out if there is a registered offender in their area with just a few clicks of the mouse, thanks to Zachary's Law, which took effect just more than two years ago.
Zachary's Law was named for 10-year-old Zachary Snider of Cloverdale. He was murdered by a convicted child molester in 1993. The law took effect Jan. 1, 2003.
"The Sheriff's Association took over and helps administer (the Web site) for the state," said Charlene Johnson of the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department. "Each county has its own Web page. People can look up (offenders) by name or by county/location."
The law requires sheriff's departments throughout Indiana to create and maintain a sex offender registry, but many people are not aware that the registry exists.
The registry contains information such as the identity, location and description of people who register as sex offenders or violent offenders.
If a convicted offender moves into a new county, he/she is required to contact the sheriff's department, get a packet and fill out paperwork within seven days. Once the information is received, the offender's photo is taken and added to the Web site as soon as possible.
"A person may not live in the county, but if they work here, they must register here, too," said Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine. "If they go to school in a county, they are supposed to register in that county as well."
Anyone convicted of rape, criminal deviate conduct, child molesting, child exploitation, vicarious sexual gratification, child solicitation, sexual misconduct with a minor (as a Class A, B or C felony), incest, sexual battery, kidnapping (if the victim is under 18 years old) or criminal confinement (if the victim is under 18), must register with the sheriff's department in the county they live in. If the offender works or goes to school in a county other than the one he/she lives in, he/she must register in that county as well.
The existing entries in the registry are updated with mailings on a yearly basis. However, if an offender's information changes, he/she is encouraged to contact the sheriff's department as soon as possible.
Sometimes updated information is not immediately available on the Web site, but anyone who wants the most current information is always welcome to call the sheriff's department at 574-267-5667 and ask for Charlene Johnson.
"We try to keep it updated, but sometimes there are computer system problems," said Johnson. "It doesn't always show updates in a timely fashion."
"All the information is here (at the sheriff's department)," said Rovenstine. "We don't control the Web site, but we update information for people who want it." [[In-content Ad]]