The Ohio attorney general's office is examining the new measure, but ultimately it will be up to the General Assembly to decide what parts to include as state law, said spokesman Bob Beasley.

Critics have expressed concern over publishing the names of juvenile sex offenders on the Internet, saying it is an obstacle to reforming kids and may even be an invitation to adult offenders to prey on these kids.

Ohio has been registering juvenile sex offenders since 2002, said Stark County Family Court Administrator Rick DeHeer. Fifty have been registered in the local court.

Minors are classified in a way similar to adults. Sexual predator is still the most serious classification and lasts for life. The label of habitual sex offender lasts for 20 years. Juvenile sex offender registrant has a time span of 10 years, DeHeer said.

Registration applies to juveniles 14 and older found delinquent by any of a number of sexually oriented offenses, including rape, gross sexual imposition, sexual battery, kidnapping and abduction, DeHeer said. It is applied at the discretion of the judge.

State law prohibits the attorney general from placing juvenile sex offenders on the statewide Sex Offender Registration and Notification Web site, Beasley said.

Sheriffs can publish the names of juvenile sex offenders on their individual Web sites if the crime included aggravated murder, murder or kidnapping.

Not everyone thinks putting the names of juvenile sex offenders on the Internet is a good idea. The Franklin County public defender's office was among several groups around the country who opposed that part of the federal law.

Director Yeura R. Venters said classifications don't convey the seriousness or exact nature of the crime, and publicly listing names can leave the juveniles open to prey by adult sex offenders, and can ostrasize them.

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