Crime Stopper Alert Ticker:

Community Oriented eSORN Program
(electronic Sex Offender Registration and Notification)

State statute requires all convicted sex offenders to register at the county Sheriff's Office where they reside, are employed, or attend school / institute of further education.

An informed citizen can help protect children.  Statistics show that on average, 80% of all addresses in Ohio have at least one registered offender living within 1 mile.  This site will give you tools to better enable you to stay informed. 

Below are links that will allow you to search for registered sex offenders, along with a link that you can use to request e-mail notification should a registered sex offender move within 1 mile of your residence or residence of a loved one.

*     U.S. Department of Justice -  National Sex Offender Database  - Click here.

*     Ohio Attorney General's Office  -  State Sex Offender Database  -  Click here.

*     Local Sex Offender Database  -  Click here.

*     To request e-mail notification when a registered sex offender moves within a mile of your residence  -  Click here.

Helpful Information About Registered Sex Offenders

*     To learn more about the Auglaize County Community Oriented SORN Program  -  Click here.

The Auglaize County Sheriff's Office receives frequent questions concerning this very complex and confusing law in Ohio.   The information contained here is an abbreviated version of this very complicated piece of legislation.

There are 8 separate classifications for sex offenders.  The two most common are a Sexually Oriented Offender and Sexual Predator.  The term "Sexual Predator" is often mistakenly used generically for all sex offenders.  The classification given to a sex offender is the sole decision of the trial judge, and is based on the relevant factors in the case, such as the age of the victim, age of the offender, prior record of the offender, and other specifics of the incident, to name a few.

Of the 8 classifications, all but one has a requirement that the offender be subject to the duties to register.  Both the Sexually Oriented Offender and the Sexual Predator have a registration requirement.   The Sexually Oriented Offender must register annually for a period of 10 years.   The Sexual Predator must register every 90 days for life.  The registration must take place at the Sheriff's Office in the county where the offender resides.

Once registered, the offender's information is entered into a statewide database.  The law requires a community notification by the Sheriff in 3 of the 8 classifications.  Two others have a potential, depending on the court's decision.  Sexual Predators have a required community notification, Sexually Oriented Offenders do not.  Community notification consists of letters being sent to residents in the neighborhood where the offender is living, and to area schools.  In all cases, whether or not letters are sent out, the offender's information is posted on an internet website for public viewing.  Members of the public can also enroll in an e-mail program where they are automatically notified by e-mail whenever ANY sex offender moves into their area.  For access to these, click the links above.

Auglaize County Sheriff Al Solomon   has a program set up to conduct random verifications of our registered sex offenders.  Deputies periodically go to the residence of randomly selected offenders to verify that they are in fact living where they registered.  If they are found to be out of compliance, the matter could be referred to the Auglaize County Prosecutor's Office for criminal charges.

Two issues that seem to generate the most questions center on the offender being in proximity of a school, or in the company of minors.  The law basically states that the offender cannot live within 1000 feet of a school.  It does not prohibit the offender from being on or near school property.  They could, for example, go to a school to pick up their own child.

The law also has no restriction in it prohibiting the offender from being around or in the company of a minor.  This could, however, be a condition of the offender's probation, provided that the offender is on some sort of probation.  Not all offenders are.

Hopefully this brief explanation can clear up some misconceptions the public may have on Registered Sex Offenders.  If anyone has any concern or specific question, they can contact Sheriff Al Solomon, Detective Jerry Sawmiller, or Deputy Michael Baeumel at 419-739-6565.