14 News, The Tri-State's News and Weather Leader-Indiana Could Soon Have Meth Registry

Indiana Could Soon Have Meth Registry

Reporter: Marianne Lyles

Web Producer: Jill Middleton

Is a meth registry a good idea for Indiana? Some hoosier lawmakers think so and hope it will pass the general assembly. The list would name those convicted of making and dealing the drug. 

To date, 120 people have been placed in the Gibson County Jail on meth related charges. Authorities say that number is much lower than in the past because of Indiana's pseudoephedrine law, which requires customers to show identification and limits the amount purchased.

Pharmacist Robert Gibson says, "It helps both us and the police to keep track of these people."

Currently the Gibson County Sheriff's Department tracks the buyers in its own database, but it can take some time to figure out who's abusing the drug.

Gibson says, "It would be very helpful if we could have some kind of computerized listing of the people that are buying."

An idea close to Gibson's request could soon be a reality. A recommendation of a meth registry with people convicted of manufacturing, financing production and delivering the drug was approved by a legislative study committee.

Authorities say that a registry would also help homeowners. For instance, if they suspected some kind of meth activity coming from a neighbor's house, they could check the site to see if they were ever convicted."

Chief Deputy George Ballard says, "A lot of times people now a days don't know who their neighbors are, but if it's like the sex registry where you have to have that photo on there you might recognize that person."

The Gibson County Sheriff's Department says it's not about posting the faces of criminals. Instead residents will know what to look for because meth dealers are often repeat offenders.

Ballard says, "They come to jail for six months, and they go right back out and right back to the same people they've been dealing with. They just start all over again."

The department hopes this will make offenders think twice from doing it again.  

Illinois is one of four states that currently has a meth offender registry.