Deputies: Marion Co. sex offender population increases for seventh straight year

MARION COUNTY, Fla. — The number of sex offenders living in Marion County has increased for the seventh straight year, according to Marion County deputies.

Since 2006, the number of registered offenders and predators living in Marion County has jumped by 40 percent and a growing number are from outside Central Florida, according to deputies.

"There's quite a few offenders who were convicted out of state, and move into Florida sometime after their conviction," said Marion County Sheriff's Lt. Chris Vorisek.

Vorisek believes the Florida climate attracts convicted offenders to the area.

"There is a transient population throughout Florida, and part of that population obviously is going to be some registered sex offenders," Vorisek said.

Laws are stricter in Florida when it comes to sex crimes and registered sex offenders and Vorisek said Marion County leads the way.

In Marion County, deputies check on all sexual predators every 30 days and sexual offenders every 90 days, more frequently than state law requires.

For more information on the Marion County Sheriff's Sex Offender/Predator Unit and to search for sex offenders/predators in your area click here.

WFTV