Parents should know whereabouts of sex offenders

Parents, have you ever dropped your kids off at a public place where you think they are safe, like a local ball field or a location where many kids gather to hang out?                                        

Have you ever heard of the Indiana Sheriff's Sex and Violent Offender Registry?  If so, have you ever looked at the site?  You may be interested to see how many sex and violent offenders live and work near many of the locations where our children are found without parental supervision.  

This site pinpoints the locations where sexual and violent offenders work and live.

A person whose name appears on this site has been convicted of a sex offense or a violent offense or has been adjudicated a delinquent child for an act that would be a sex offense or violent offense if committed by an adult.

Sex offenses includes rape, criminal deviate conduct, child molesting, child exploitation, vicarious sexual gratification, child solicitation, child seduction, sexual misconduct with a minor when the offense is a Class A, B, or C felony, incest, sexual battery, kidnapping someone under the age of 18, criminal confinement  in which the victim is younger than 18 and possession of child pornography, if the person has a prior unrelated conviction for possession of child pornography.

The goal is not to frighten you from ever letting your children leave your sight. However, our children deserve to know the dangers in our area.

As responsible parents, we would never knowingly put our children in harm's way, so please educate yourself on your community and your neighbors. Visit the Indiana Sheriffs' Sex and Violent Offender Registry at www.insor.org or the Perry County Prosecutor's Web site at www.perrycountyprosecutor.com and find the registry link.  

You can also call the Perry County Sheriff's Department at 547-2441 if you do not have access to the Internet.

This column was submitted by Jennifer Chestnut, victim advocate in the office of Perry County Prosecutor Robert Collins.