Search Washington County Sex Offenders
The Washington County Sheriff's Department in Salem is responsible for managing sex offender registration and maintaining registry records for all of Washington County, Indiana. Searches are free, and each record lists the offender's name, photo, address, and the offense that triggered the registration requirement.
Washington County Sex Offender Registry
How to Search the Washington County Sex Offender Registry
The primary free search tool for Washington County is iCrimeWatch Indiana. This statewide portal is used by all 92 Indiana county sheriffs, including Washington County. You can search by name, address, or zip code. An address search returns all registered offenders within one mile of that location. No login is required and the search costs nothing.
The Washington County Sheriff's Department does not maintain a separate local search portal. All registry data for the county flows through the Indiana statewide system. If you are looking for someone who lives or works in the Salem area, an address search on iCrimeWatch using the Salem zip code will return results for the surrounding area.
You can also search at the national level through the National Sex Offender Public Website. That site searches all 50 state registries at once. It is useful when you need to check on someone who recently arrived in Washington County from Kentucky or another nearby state. Washington County is in the southern part of Indiana, and the Kentucky border is not far away.
Free email alerts are a feature of the statewide iCrimeWatch system. Set up an alert tied to any address in Washington County and the system will notify you by email whenever a registered sex offender moves nearby. This service is free and does not expire unless you cancel it.
Washington County Sheriff's Office Contact
The Washington County Sheriff's Department is led by Sheriff Brent Miller. The office is located at 801 S Jackson St., Salem, IN 47167. To reach the office, call (812) 883-5999. The phone menu routes callers: press 1 for officer, administrative, or animal control matters; press 2 for jail or bond inquiries. You can also email the department at sheriff@washingtoncounty.in.gov. The official website is washingtoncountyinsheriff.org. Additional county information is available at the county government page at washingtoncounty.in.gov.
The department states its mission is to be "committed to excellence in law enforcement and dedicated to the people, businesses, and traditions of our county." Registrations and compliance checks are part of the day-to-day work of the department.
The Washington County Sheriff coordinates with the Indiana Department of Correction on releases from state prisons and works with the Indiana Sheriffs' Association on cross-county moves and statewide data sharing. The Sheriff's Office can also be reached through the Indiana Sheriffs' Association directory.
What the Registry Includes
Each record in the Washington County sex offender registry includes the person's full legal name and any aliases they use. A current photograph is taken at each registration or verification visit and is part of the public record. The home address and, when available, the employer name and address are also listed. The offense or offenses that required registration appear on the record along with the conviction date.
Additional details in each record include vehicle information (make, model, color, and license plate), physical description (height, weight, hair and eye color), and online identifiers such as email addresses and usernames. These identifiers are collected at registration but may not all be visible in the public search portal. If you need more specific information, contact the Washington County Sheriff's Department directly at (812) 883-5999 or by email at sheriff@washingtoncounty.in.gov.
Indiana Registration Law: IC 11-8-8 and Zachary's Law
Indiana's sex offender registry is governed by IC 11-8-8, commonly called Zachary's Law. It went into effect on January 1, 2003, and was named after Zachary Snider, a child from Cloverdale, Indiana, who was killed by a person with a prior sex offense record. The law created the statewide registry and required all 92 county sheriffs to maintain public records and make them available at no cost.
The offenses that require registration are defined in IC 11-8-8-4.5. They include rape, child molesting, criminal deviate conduct, sexual misconduct with a minor, child exploitation, incest, and voyeurism involving minors. A conviction in another state that would qualify under Indiana law also triggers a registration requirement when the person moves to Indiana. Washington County residents who committed qualifying offenses in Kentucky and now live in southern Indiana are subject to Indiana's registration requirements.
IC 11-8-8-7 sets the 72-hour deadline for registration after release from incarceration or arrival in a new county. Failure to register is a Level 6 felony. A second failure-to-register offense is charged as a Level 5 felony, carrying one to six years in prison. The Washington County Prosecutor's Office handles failure-to-register cases referred by the Sheriff's Department.
Registration Periods and Check-In Requirements
Most sex offenders on the Washington County registry must remain registered for 10 years. The period begins when the offender is released from prison or supervised release ends, whichever is later. After 10 years of full compliance, the person can petition a court to be removed. The court looks at the entire criminal history and current risk level before granting or denying the petition.
Sexually violent predators and offenders convicted of crimes against victims under age 12 must register for life. No petition process exists for these individuals. SVPs must appear at the Washington County Sheriff's Office every 90 days to verify their current address, job, vehicle, and online accounts. All other registrants check in once per year. Each check-in requires an in-person visit and a new photo.
Any change to an address, employer, vehicle, or online accounts must be reported within 72 hours. An offender leaving Washington County must notify the sheriff here and then register in the new county within 72 hours of arriving there. Missing a check-in or failing to report a change is treated as a criminal offense.
Residency Restrictions
Indiana law bars certain sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of a school, public park, youth program center, or licensed child care facility. This applies to offenders convicted of crimes against minors and covers the entire county, including Salem and all surrounding communities. A violation is a Level 6 felony. Offenders must also avoid living within one mile of their victim's current address.
Probation or parole terms often impose additional geographic restrictions beyond what state law requires. These conditions vary by case. Before any move within Washington County, an offender should confirm with the Sheriff's Office that the new address is compliant. Call (812) 883-5999 or email sheriff@washingtoncounty.in.gov with questions about a specific address. Do not assume compliance without checking first.