Nye County residents can now receive e-mail alerts if registered sex offenders and predators move within one mile of their home, work place, schools, or day care thanks to the OffenderWatch program on the sheriff's office Web site.

The program, used by 400 law enforcement agencies in 31 states, allows people to enter an address of interest to them and see a map listing sex offenders within one mile of that address.

Should a sex offender be within the one-mile radius, the user can click on a link that will show additional information about the offender.

Residents can also confidentially register to receive e-mail alerts should a registered offender move within on mile of an unlimited number of addresses they enter free of charge.

In addition to increasing county residents' safety, the program also helps the sheriff's office to ensure that registered offenders do not violate any safety buffers that may be implemented around protected institutions such as schools, day care and churches.

The program can be accessed by visiting the sheriff's office Web site at www.nyecountysheriff.net and clicking on the "Sex Offender Website" link in the upper left-hand corner.

After that, just follow the on-screen instructions or view the online presentation of the program.