Finding out if a sex offender is living in your neighborhood just got a little easier.

With many students in the process of finding housing for next school year, the frustrations of trying to land that perfect place and location takes a back seat to safety concerns about living in a high-crime area.

Franklin County Auditor Clarence Mingo announced Jan. 12 an enhanced Web site feature at franklincountyauditor.com that allows Franklin County residents to identify and locate registered sex offenders who live within a two-mile radius.

The auditor’s Web site, Franklin County’s most popular site with about 1 million people logging in a month, is now providing residents with more than just property values, but also the ability to know their neighbors and peace of mind when searching for a home.

“The public has the power of information to know who’s in their community and what threats, if any, might exist that they should be aware of,” Mingo said.

Mingo, a graduate of the Ohio State Moritz College of Law, began his private legal practice protecting children in abusive situations and said this, combined with parenthood, inspired him to provide the public with the new feature.

After doing a property search on the site’s real estate page, a user can click on “Area Sex Offender Inquiry” and view information on all registered sex offenders, including name, photo, location and crime committed.

Sue Lusk-Gleich, president of the Columbus Board of Realtors, believes it is a good tool for those searching for homes.

“It’s information that’s already been out there, it just makes it a little more seamless for the consumer, if they’re searching for properties, to be able to have that right there and handy,” she said.

The Area Sex Offender Inquiry combines information from the Ohio Attorney General’s Web site and Franklin County Sheriff’s Web site.

“We approached the attorney general’s office and the sheriff’s office and their staffs couldn’t have been more helpful,” Mingo said. “We were able to work quickly and efficiently to present this vital service to our county constituents.”

The state attorney general’s Web site shows about 2,400 sex offenders living in Franklin County. More information can be found at franklincountyauditor.com.