Tools are available to parents to protect their children from online predators

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) -  An Indiana law that bans sex offenders from using Facebook and other social media sites has been ruled unconstitutional, but parents still have tools to protect their children from online sex offenders.

"All offenders have to provide all of their electronic email addresses, Internet screen names, chat room names, user names, anything that they use or intend to use on the Internet," said Allen County Sheriff's Detective Jeff Shimkus.

If an offender doesn't register all that information, he or she can be charged with a Class D felony for failure to register.

The 7th U.S. Circuit of Appeals in Chicago overturned a federal judge's decision upholding the law, saying the state was justified in trying to protect children but that the "blanket ban" went too far by restricting free speech. The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana filed the suit to have this law overturned, claiming it was not necessary.

"Indiana already has in effect a law that prohibits inappropriate communication with children and it has penalties for doing it via the Internet," said ACLU Legal Director Ken Falk.

Detective Shimkus said parents can actually go to the Allen County Sheriff's Department's website and type in an Internet screen name or email address. If that email address or screen name comes back to a registered offender, there will be a prompt to call local law enforcement.