Changes are being made in the state sex offender registry

Anyone wishing to keep track of registered sex offenders inWinneshiek County or elsewhere in Iowa can now get text message notificationssent to their cell phones.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety has announced the newoption, called "Offender Watch."  It enables crime victims and others toreceive a confidential automatic notification via text message of a registeredsex offender's change in address when the offender notifies the state of thechange.

"Offender Watch provides real-time information anonymouslyto crime victims and to others who want to know the minute a convicted sexoffender notifies the state that he or she has moved to another address," saidIowa Attorney General Tom Miller.

The feature is available at the state's website, http://www.iowasexoffender.com/notifications