Access Putnam County Sex Offender Records
Putnam County sex offenders are registered through the Putnam County Sheriff's Office in Greencastle, Indiana. The public registry is free to access online and includes current photos, home and work addresses, vehicle details, and offense information for every person required to register in Putnam County under Indiana's Zachary's Law.
Putnam County Sex Offender Registry
How to Search Putnam County Sex Offenders
The official way to search sex offenders in Putnam County is through iCrimeWatch Indiana. This statewide portal is maintained by all 92 Indiana county sheriffs including Putnam County. You can search by offender name or by address. An address search shows all registered offenders within a radius of any location in Greencastle, Cloverdale, Bainbridge, or the rural areas of Putnam County. The portal costs nothing to use.
The Putnam County Sheriff's Office also has a dedicated sex offender registry page through the OffenderWatch system at sheriffalerts.com. This is a direct link to Putnam County's registry data. The Indiana Department of Correction provides additional state-level registry information and explains registration requirements.
For national searches, NSOPW.gov covers all 50 states and territories. Free email alerts are available through the national site and through iCrimeWatch. When an offender in Putnam County updates their address or a new registration occurs near your location, you receive an automatic notification at no cost.
Putnam County Sheriff's Office
The Putnam County Sheriff's Office handles sex and violent offender registration for all of Putnam County. Sheriff Jerrod Baugh leads the department. The office is located at 13 Keightly Road, Greencastle, IN 46135. Mailing address is PO Box 495, Greencastle, IN 46135. The main phone number is (765) 653-3211. For questions about sex offender registration specifically, you can also reach staff by email at vjohnson@putnam-sheriff.org.
Office hours for registration are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The office is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. The department's website is at putnam-sheriff.org. If you plan to register or verify your information, call ahead to confirm current hours, as they can change during holidays or special circumstances. All appointments must be in person.
Putnam County includes DePauw University in Greencastle, and the county's proximity to Indianapolis via US-40 and I-70 means some registrants commute between counties. People who live in Putnam County but work in Indianapolis, or vice versa, may have registration obligations in multiple counties. The Putnam County Sheriff's Office can clarify what is required based on your specific situation.
Indiana's Sex Offender Registry Law
Indiana IC 11-8-8, called Zachary's Law, created the statewide sex offender registry on January 1, 2003. The law was named for Zachary Snider, a child from Cloverdale, which is right here in Putnam County. Zachary was killed by a registered sex offender before Indiana had a public registry. His case was one of the driving forces behind the legislation. Putnam County's connection to Zachary's Law gives the county a particular stake in its enforcement.
The law requires all 92 counties to maintain public sex offender records and make them freely accessible online. The Indiana Sheriffs' Association operates the OffenderWatch platform that all Indiana sheriffs use to enter and share registry data. When Putnam County staff update a record, that information appears in iCrimeWatch automatically. The Indiana Department of Correction oversees the program at the state level and sets standards for compliance across all counties.
Who Must Register with the Putnam County Sheriff
Registration is required for anyone convicted of a qualifying sex or violent offense. Indiana's list covers rape, child molesting, criminal deviate conduct, child exploitation, sexual misconduct with a minor, and voyeurism involving minors. Out-of-state and federal convictions count if the offense would qualify under Indiana law. The 72-hour deadline applies from the moment you are released from custody, change your address, start a new job, or enroll in school in a new county.
Registration in Putnam County is not limited to people who live in the county. If you live in another county but work in Greencastle, Cloverdale, or anywhere else in Putnam County, you must register your work address with the Putnam County Sheriff within 72 hours of starting that job. Students at DePauw University or any other Putnam County school with a prior qualifying conviction must register their school address as well. Each location type carries a separate registration obligation.
People moving to Indiana from another state must register within 72 hours of arriving if they have a prior qualifying conviction. This applies whether you are moving to Putnam County or just passing through to settle in a neighboring county. The law applies to all Indiana residency, not just specific regions.
Registration Requirements in Putnam County
All registrations must happen in person at the Putnam County Sheriff's Office on Keightly Road in Greencastle. Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM are the registration hours. Registrants provide their full legal name and aliases, date of birth, home address, work address, school address if applicable, all vehicle information, and all internet identifiers including email addresses and social media accounts. Staff take a photograph at each visit.
Standard registrants verify their information once a year. Those classified as sexually violent predators must appear for in-person verification every 90 days. Address changes require notification and a new in-person visit within 72 hours of moving. Missing a verification is a Level 6 felony. Providing false information is also a felony. A second violation bumps up to a Level 5 felony with a sentence of one to six years in prison.
Most registrants stay on the public registry for 10 years. Sexually violent predators and those with victims under age 12 register for life. The court petition process for registry removal exists but is rarely granted for serious offenses. An attorney familiar with Indiana sex offender law can advise on eligibility.
Residency Restrictions and Compliance in Putnam County
Indiana law prohibits offenders against children from living within 1,000 feet of any school, youth program center, or public park. They also cannot live within one mile of their victim's home. These restrictions cover all of Putnam County. A violation is a Level 6 felony under IC 35-42-4-11. The sheriff's office can help verify whether a specific address in Putnam County falls within a restricted zone before a registrant moves there.
Putnam County has a mix of small towns and rural land. Greencastle has DePauw University, city parks, and schools, all of which create restricted zones in the city. Cloverdale, Bainbridge, and other communities also have restrictions. Rural areas of the county have fewer restricted zones, but any school bus stop or designated youth facility can create restrictions even in unincorporated areas. Always check before moving.
The Putnam County Sheriff's Office at 13 Keightly Road, Greencastle handles all sex offender registrations in the county. Registration hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Visit putnam-sheriff.org for more information.