Shelby County Sex Offender Registry Search
The Shelby County sex offender registry is managed by the Shelby County Sheriff's Department and is accessible to the public for free through Indiana's statewide OffenderWatch system. Every person required to register as a sex or violent offender in Shelby County must keep their information current, and the registry is updated continuously so residents in Shelbyville and across the county can look up offenders by name, address, or ZIP code without paying any fee.
Shelby County Sex Offender Registry
Shelby County Sheriff's Department
The Shelby County Sheriff's Department has served the citizens of Shelby County since 1822. Sheriff Louie Koch oversees the department. The office is at 107 W. Taylor Street, Shelbyville, IN 46176. Phone: (317) 392-6345. The lobby is open Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM, except holidays.
The department fields 37 Merit Deputies, 3 Reserve Deputies, 6 Courthouse Security Deputies, and a Civil Process Server. Deputies patrol just over 408 square miles and 864 miles of roadway across the county. They handle complaints, serve warrants, investigate crimes, and manage the sex offender registry along with all other law enforcement duties.
The Shelby County Criminal Justice Center, which opened in 1994, houses the Sheriff's Department, the Shelbyville Police Department, and the county jail. The jail holds over 200 inmates. Sex offender registration takes place at the Sheriff's Department inside this facility on Taylor Street in Shelbyville.
For questions about registration requirements, to schedule an appointment, or to report a compliance concern, call the main line at (317) 392-6345 during business hours. The Shelby County Sheriff website also has contact information and general guidance on sex offender registration in the county.
How to Search for Offenders in Shelby County
The public search tool for Shelby County sex offenders is iCrimeWatch Indiana. This free site is the public-facing portal for the OffenderWatch database used by all 92 Indiana county sheriffs. No account is required to search. You can look up offenders by first or last name, street address, city, or ZIP code.
Search results show each offender's photo, home address, offense type, registration dates, and compliance status. You can also see whether someone is classified as a sexually violent predator, which affects how often they must verify their registration. All data in the system is provided directly by county sheriffs and updated throughout the day.
The Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website is another option. It aggregates registry data from all states and U.S. territories. If you want to check whether someone moving from out of state has a registration history, NSOPW is the best place to start.
The Indiana Sheriffs' Association publishes guidance on how the registry system works statewide. Their site covers what the registry contains, how it is updated, and how community members can use it safely and lawfully.
Indiana Registration Requirements
Zachary's Law, codified at IC 11-8-8, governs sex offender registration throughout Indiana. The law has been in effect since January 1, 2003. It applies in Shelby County the same as every other Indiana county.
Any person convicted of a qualifying sex or violent offense must register with the county sheriff within 72 hours of release from incarceration, arrival in the county, or any change to their registered information. This 72-hour window covers home address changes, workplace changes, changes to school enrollment, and changes to a vehicle or online identifier.
People convicted in other states who establish a residence, employment, or school enrollment in Shelby County must register with the Shelby County Sheriff within 72 hours. The triggering offense does not have to be an Indiana offense. If it would require registration under Indiana law, the out-of-state conviction is treated the same way.
Registration Fees
Indiana allows counties to charge registration fees. Check with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office directly for the current fee schedule, as amounts can change. Payment methods and exact amounts vary by county. Contact the office at (317) 392-6345 before your appointment to confirm what you will owe and what forms of payment are accepted.
How Long Registration Lasts in Shelby County
The length of registration depends on the specific offense and whether the person is designated as a sexually violent predator. Most offenders register for 10 years from the date of their release from incarceration, or from the date of conviction if no prison time was served.
Sexually violent predators must register for life. SVP designation can come from the nature of the offense or from a formal court determination. If a court finds that someone meets the SVP criteria under Indiana law, the lifetime registration requirement applies automatically.
SVPs must also verify their registration every 90 days instead of annually. This means they must appear at the Shelby County Sheriff's Department four times per year to confirm their information is current. Missing a verification appointment is treated the same as failing to register.
Offenders without a fixed address must report to the sheriff every seven days. This applies to anyone who is homeless, staying in shelters, or moving between locations without a stable residence. The seven-day check-in keeps the registry accurate when offenders cannot provide a permanent address.
What Each Registry Listing Includes
When you search the Shelby County registry, each result shows the offender's full name, date of birth, current address, and a photograph. The listing also includes a description of the offense that triggered registration, along with the conviction date and jurisdiction.
The listing shows the offender's physical description, including height, weight, hair color, and eye color. Any known scars, marks, or tattoos may also appear. The registration status tells you whether the person is current on their obligations or is listed as non-compliant.
If the offender is classified as an SVP, that designation is visible on the public listing. The Indiana Department of Correction oversees the broader classification and tracking system that feeds into the county-level registry managed by the Shelby County Sheriff.
Residency Restrictions in Shelby County
Registered sex offenders in Indiana cannot live within 1,000 feet of a school, public park, or youth program center. This rule is set by state law under IC 35-42-4-11 and applies everywhere in Indiana, including Shelby County.
Offenders must also stay at least one mile away from their victim's residence. This restriction applies for as long as the offender is registered. Moving within Shelby County does not end this requirement. If a protected facility opens near an existing registered address, the offender may have to relocate.
If an offender moves to a different county, they must register with that county's sheriff within 72 hours of establishing the new address. They should also notify the Shelby County Sheriff's Department of the move. Registration does not transfer automatically -- each county sheriff maintains a separate local record, though all records feed into the statewide OffenderWatch system.
Email Alerts and Notification Tools
Shelby County residents can sign up for free email alerts through the OffenderWatch platform. When a registered offender moves into or out of an area you specify, the system sends an alert to your email address. There is no cost to use this service.
To set up alerts, go to iCrimeWatch Indiana and create a free account. After logging in, enter the address or area you want to monitor and set your preferred notification radius. You can monitor your home address, your workplace, a school your children attend, or any other location in Indiana.
The alert system updates in near real time as sheriffs enter new or changed registration information. You can manage multiple alert locations from one account, and you can adjust or cancel alerts at any time.
The Shelby County Sheriff's Office uses the Indiana statewide registry system shown below to manage all sex offender registration in the county.
The statewide OffenderWatch platform powers the Shelby County registry and connects all 92 Indiana county sheriffs into one searchable database.
Reporting Non-Compliance
If you know or suspect that a registered sex offender is not complying with their registration requirements in Shelby County, call the Sheriff's Department at (317) 392-6345. You can report a violation during business hours Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM.
You can also report concerns through the Indiana Sheriffs' Association Find Your Sheriff tool, which lists contact information for all 92 Indiana county sheriffs. Anonymous tips are accepted. You do not have to give your name when reporting a compliance concern.
The National Sex Offender Public Website also has an option to submit a tip if you believe an offender is not registered where they should be. Tips submitted through NSOPW are routed to the appropriate local agency for follow-up.