Sex offender designations: Which is the worst?

Sex crimes seem to be on the rise, and more children seem to be victims than ever before.

With all of attention on punishment of sex offenders, we asked about Ohio’s sex offender laws and for clarification on the tier system.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office website (http://www.mcohio.org/Prosecutor/offenders.cfm) provides the latest information in Ohio regarding sexual offenders, including a link to receive email notices when sex offenders move into areas you want to know about.

THE WORST

A tier 1, 2 or 3 system doesn't naturally indicate severity, so here is an explanation provided by the MCSO.

A Tier 1 sex offender is the lowest level, with the offenses ranging from voyeurism, sexual imposition, pandering obscenity, menacing by stalking with sexual motivation and importuning. Tier 1 offenders must register their address every year for 15 years.

A Tier II sex offenders must register their address every 180 days (6 months) for 25 years. Offenses in this tier include pornography, child endangering, compelling prostitution and gross sexual imposition victim younger than 13, among others.

The most severe sex offenders are given a Tier III designation. Lifetime address registration, and must verify the address every 90 days (3 months). This tier includes sex offenses that range from rape, sexual battery and murder with sexual motivation, to kidnapping of a minor to engage in sexual activity, to unlawful death or termination of pregnancy as a result of committing a felony with sexual motivation.

Tracking sexual offenders has become easier with new technology and laws designed to protect the public. Most counties have their own registries available online.

AUGLAIZE COUNTY http://www.icrimewatch.net/index.php?AgencyID=55232
BUTLER COUNTY http://www.icrimewatch.net/index.php?AgencyID=55229
CLARK COUNTY http://icrimewatch.net/index.php?AgencyID=55226
DARKE COUNTY http://icrimewatch.net/index.php?AgencyID=55219
GREENE COUNTY http://www.icrimewatch.net/index.php?AgencyID=55207
MERCER COUNTY http://www.icrimewatch.net/index.php?AgencyID=55173
MIAMI COUNTY http://www.icrimewatch.net/index.php?AgencyID=55172
MONTGOMERY COUNTY http://sheriffalerts.com/cap_main.php?office=55170
PREBLE COUNTY http://icrimewatch.net/index.php?AgencyID=55159
WARREN COUNTY http://www.icrimewatch.net/index.php?AgencyID=55199

One final thought. Law enforcement tell us that most predators are known by the victim. Learn the signs of a sexual predator and how pedophiles groom their victims. Contact your local police department or sheriff's office for help in your area.