With the school year coming to an end, the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office conducts a county-wide Registered Offender Compliance Operation.

 Cherokee County Sheriff David Groves says the check was conducted because of summer break for school aged children. Groves says children will be playing more outdoors, going with their friends to parks and swimming pools, or may be going to new sitters.  It's important for parents to know if any registered sex, drug or violent offenders live in the areas their children live and play, so they can take precautions to keep their family safe.

 Groves says there are over 100 registered offenders living in the county, and the county saw a 95% compliance rate during the most recent operation. He says criminal charges will be requested on those suspected of violating the Kansas Offender Registration Act.

 According to the Crimes Against Children Research Center, one in five teens have reported receiving an unwanted sexual solicitation online.  In 2021, most of the more than 29 million tips reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children dealt with child sexual abuse images, online enticement, including "sextortion," child sex trafficking, and child sexual molestation.

 Funding for the Registered Offender Compliance Operation is provided through a grant awarded to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office from the Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant, United States Office of Justice Programs.