Sex offenders told to register or else

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Tracking down convicted sex offenders is a top priority in Central Indiana this week. Federal and county officers began a seven-county sweep Monday.

Sex offenders, by law, must let law enforcement know where they live. Marion County has just under 4,000 registered offenders with compliance reported at 100 percent. Officers are verifying the addresses of convicted offenders making sure offenders are in full compliance with the law. When police find an offender who isn't in compliance, there's an arrest. No excuses.

During Monday's sweep, officers found three offenders who didn't have a valid Indiana ID with valid licenses.

One of the offenders told 24-Hour News 8, "I've been working on it. As soon as I get a lease form my landlord, it will be fine."

But Sgt. Andy Dalstrom with the Marion County Sheriff's Department says working on it isn't good enough.

"In the state of Indiana, it's a felony for them not to possess a valid ID card with the correct address," said Sgt. Dalstrom.

The US Marshals' service is the lead federal agency responsible for apprehension of non-compliant sex offenders and announced that offenders who haven't registered will be given immunity if they get registered before deputies show up at the door.

"So that's the main initiative of this operation is to get sex offenders who are not compliant currently, get them in, get them registered, get them compliant with the state law," said John Beeman is a US Marshal based in Indianapolis.

It's a mission designed to let the public know where sex offenders are living when they are released from prison.

"Hopefully, that would give the community a sense of security at least in knowing that they know where these people are in their neighborhood," said Sgt. Dalstrom.

Type in your address at the Indiana Sheriff's Department website and see if you any registered offenders in your neighborhood.