Cox said he has a list of names of those that have failed to register, and deputies will be visiting them. There are approximately 20 named sex offenders in the county.

The duty to register expires 10 years after the date the offender is released from jail or a secure juvenile detention facility or is placed in a community transition program, a community corrections program, on parole or on probation, whichever occurred last.

But, for certain offenses, the offenders is required to register for life. They include:

• A sex and violent offense committed when the offender was 18 years of age or older against a victim who was less than 12 years old at the time of the crime.

• A sex and violent offense in which the offender caused serious bodily injury or death to the victim; used force or the threat of force against the victim or a member of the victim’s family; or rendered the victim unconscious or otherwise incapable of giving voluntary consent.

• Convicted of two or more unrelated sex and violent offenses.

Cox said some prosecutors have already charged those in their county that have failed to register. Under state statute, a sex or violent offender who knowingly or intentionally fails to register commits a Class D felony. The offense is a Class C felony if the individual has a prior offense for failure to register.

“Protecting families in Daviess County is a top priority for this administration,” Cox said.

“This registry is an effective tool to enhance public safety and allow residents to stay informed. We’re proud to be involved in this partnership and to be working with state officials to keep the community safe.”

Maintained by the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association, the Indiana Sheriffs’ Sex Offender Registry is a joint project involving Gov. Mitch Daniels, the state Department of Correction, Attorney General Steve Carter, the state police and the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.

The new portal also links with the National Sex Offender Public Registry, coordinated by the U.S. Department of Justice.