BRAZIL — When it comes to the sex offender registry, Clay County Sheriff Mike Heaton has decided to relieve some of the taxpayers’ burden.
As of Wednesday, sex offenders must pay a $50 yearly fee when they register in Clay County.
The money will help offset costs associated with processing, tracking and communicating with sex offenders, Heaton said.
“Right now the taxpayers are footing the bill for everything we do. But as part of these individuals’ sentences, for whatever their offense is, this is part of it. They have to register. It’s putting some of the cost off on them,” Heaton said.
The State of Indiana collects 10 percent of an offender’s first registration fee, thereafter Clay County gets 100 percent of the fee for the duration of the offender’s required registration.
The Indiana Department of Correction registers sex offenders, violent offenders and sex predators upon their release, so collected fees help offset the state’s costs.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Department has one deputy assigned to managing the registry.
“I got an individual right now that his sole responsibility is to track [sex offenders] down and make sure they register, or files paperwork with the prosecutor for charges,” Heaton said.
The registration fee is optional for every county in Indiana, and the Clay County Council passed Heaton’s proposal.
Each Indiana sheriff is responsible for the sheriff’s registry because of a state law mandating that their departments establish and maintain a Web site providing detailed information about sex offenders.
Sex offenders must provide information such as a recent photograph, current address, work address and offense information.
Clay County has about 70 registered sex offenders, which includes 15 registered in Brazil, according to the Sheriff’s Association at www.indianasheriffs.org.
“It’s going to put more responsibility on them. They committed a crime and offense. It’s making them responsible for part of the cost,” Heaton said.
Laura Followell can be reached at (812) 231-4253 or laura.followell@tribstar.com.
On the net
• Clay County has about 70 registered sex offenders, which includes 15 registered in Brazil, according to the Sheriff’s Association at www.indianasheriffs.org.
Man Falls Off Crane, Dies After Police Standoff
Witness Describes Fla. Face-chewing Attack
Raw Video: Cop Shoots Man Eating Another's Face
Man in Crane at Texas College Says He's Armed
Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks
Obama Honors Fallen Troops at Arlington Cemetery
Raw Video: Deadly Explosion at Minn. Paper Mill
Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows
Romney Promises World's Strongest Military
Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
Raw Video: Earthquake Shakes Evacuees in Italy
Obama Pays Tribute to Vietnam Veterans
Beryl Knocks Out Power in Florida
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire
15 Dead in Northern Italy's 5.8-magnitude Quake
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Memorial Day Aboard Intrepid
New Ticks Spread Across Southeast, Diseases Rise
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
Los Angeles Bar Bans Bachelorettes
Hamster Plays Dead
Beyonce Shows Off 60 Pound Weight Loss at Concert
Drunk Women Breaking Into Houses: A New Trend?
LeAnn Rimes Rocks Short Shorts
Gordon Ramsay Carried Off Field
Man Dies Getting Lap Dance
Kim Kardashian Claims Items Stolen from Her Luggage
Bear cools off in Calif. family's pool
Ep. 3: Chopped Desserts
Air Force dad surprises family at baseball game
Justin Bieber Wanted for Questioning for L.A. Scuffle
J.Lo and Marc's Friendly Reunion
Jet makes emergency landing after debris falls off
Cynthia Nixon Ties the Knot
Woman, 80, Falls Out of Skydive Harness Mid-Jump
Keira Reveals Engagement Ring
