YELL & TELL: STOP CHILD ABUSE NOW endeavors to prevent all manner of child maltreatment through education. A giant step YELL & TELL and all of us can take toward reducing one category of child abuse can be found by clicking on the .Lucas County Sheriff's Sex Offender Registry.

Since July, 1997, Ohio has required that an adult convicted of, or having plead guilty to, sexually oriented offenses, e.g., rape, sexual battery, gross sexual imposition, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, register with the Sheriff of the County in which the adult lives after being released from jail or prison.

By frequently visiting YELL & TELL: STOP CHILD ABUSE NOW and monitoring any sex offender registrants in your neighborhood, you will protect not only your child but all neighborhood children from becoming a victim.

The following is taken from the Lucas County Sheriff's website and categorizes Sex Offender Classifications:

Sexual predator: An adult or juvenile classified as sexual predator has been convicted of [adult] or found delinquent by reason of [juvenile] a very serious or violent sexually oriented offense and determined at a classification hearing as likely in the future to commit sexually oriented offense[s]. Sexual predators must register, every 90 days for life, with the Sheriff of the County in which the offender lives; and whenever he/she changes residence. Neighbors and other community entities, such as schools, day care centers, and the like, are notified by the Sheriff whenever a registered sexual predator notifies the Sheriff of the offender's intention to reside within certain distances of such entities.

Habitual Sex Offender: An adult or juvenile classified as a habitual sex offender has been convicted of [adult] or found delinquent by reason of [juvenile] one or more sexually oriented offense[s]; and determined at a classification hearing to have engaged in repeated sex offenses. Habitual sex offenders must register, once a year for 20 years, with the Sheriff of the County in which the offender lives; and whenever he/she changes residence.

Some persons classified as habitual sex offenders have an additional classification: subject to community notification. A sentencing judge can impose the requirement that neighbors and other community entities are notified by the Sheriff whenever a registered habitual sex offenders subject to community notification informs the Sheriff of the offender's intention to reside within certain distances of such entities.

Sexually Oriented Offender: An adult or juvenile classified as a sexually oriented offender has been convicted of [adult] or found delinquent by reason of [juvenile] a sexually oriented offense; but has not been classified as either a sexual predator or habitual sex offender. Sexually oriented offenders must register, once a year for 10 years, with the Sheriff of the County in which the offender lives; and whenever he/she changes residence. For more information call 419-213-4269 or 419-213-4965.