BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. -- The Broward Sheriff's Office has joined the campaign to help parents learn about any sexual predators that may be located near their child's home or school.

Thursday, Sheriff Ken Jenne announced the launch of the BSO Sexual Offender Locator. Every school, licensed day-care center, park and library in Broward County has been preprogrammed into the mapping system.

The Sexual Offender Locator also allows individual addresses to be mapped as well. Each inquiry will create a map, and pinpoint all offenders within a quarter-mile, a half-mile, or 1, 2 or 5 miles.

The BSO Web site is at sheriff.org/sexualpredators

Below are some other helpful links that can help you do your own investigation of your neighborhood and the areas surrounding your child's school or daycare center.

Family Watchdog (National Site)

The Web site familywatchdog.us, launched in August 2002, shows the location of predators in comparison to schools and playground. No buffer zone is indicated.

Map Sex Offenders (National Site)

The free, map-based service mapsexoffenders.com allows you to search by clicking a map or entering an address. The service searches are available for 42 states, including Florida. You can also sign up for emailed alerts if a sex offenders moves into an address near you.

Safe Community Networks (Statewide)

The statewide site safecommunitynetworks.com is offering free sign-up for a limited time. They also offer a premium for $25 that provides emailed updates.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement

FDLE has a free online database that you can search by particular address or you can also search by name, address, city or zip code. The information is text only – no maps are included. Local 10 did find some repeat and inaccurate listings in the database.

Miami-Dade County

The county provides a Sexual Offender/Predator search by address, intersection, landmark or school . Map-based search allows you to zoom in and out on particular areas and locates offenders, schools and daycare centers.