| SEX OFFENDERS |

In 1994, the Jacob Wetterling Act required all states to draft and enact a sex offender registration law. In 1996, Megan's Law amended previous laws to enforce community notifications and create Internet search engines for registered sex offenders.

The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act (2006) reclassifies all previously registered Sex Offenders under a new Tier level classification system. This law was implemented to standardize Sex Offender classifications nationwide and the new Sex Offender classifications are based on the actual crime the Offender was convicted of and the age of the victims.

The Tier Levels are generally categorized as follows:

• Tier I is the lowest classification level and is comparable to the old Sexually Oriented Offender classification. These offenders have to register yearly for 15 years.
• Tier II is the middle level classification and is comparable to the old Habitual Sex Offender classification. Tier II may or may not have public notification post cards sent out to neighbors depending on Court designation. These offenders have to register every 180 days for 25 years.
• Tier III is the highest classification level and is comparable to the old Sexual Predator classification and includes public notification post cards sent out to neighbors. These offenders have to register every 90 days for life.

**CLICK HERE to search for local Sex Offenders**

There are several slight name variations within each level in regards to a type and or age of the victim.

All Sex Offenders are reclassified and many of the reclassified offenders will have public notification post cards sent out to their neighborhoods in the near future as they comply with the new registration requirements under the Adam Walsh Act.

This may cause some confusion to the nearby neighbors of the reclassified Sex Offenders as to why they are now getting public post card notifications about offenders who have been living near them for years. Under the old law Sheriff's Offices were not permitted to send out public post card notifications to nearby neighbors on those offenders due to their classifications under the old laws.

Persons wanting more information on Sex Offenders can contact the Williams County Sheriffs Office at 419-636-3151.