One of the recommendations of the Tennessee methamphetamine task force--a search-able "Meth Offender Registry on the Web -- has become a reality.

The registry now is available through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Searches can be made by name of offender or by county in which the crime took place.

The registry could be a good tool for potential landlords and others who want to ensure that their neighborhood stay safe. If you find someone who has been convicted of cooking meth in a home in the past, you know who to keep an eye on today.

A safety concern regarding meth is that it is not merely a health threat to those who abuse the drug.  It also presents a safety risk to those who are around it.

According to a release from the Washington State Department of Health, "Labs present extreme dangers from explosions and exposure to hazardous chemicals.  Breathing the fumes and handling substances, can cause injury and even death."

Law enforcement officials in Tennessee hope the embarrassment factor of having one's name on an Internet list of meth offenders also might serve as a preventive measure.  That threat probably won't stop most people because criminals have a tendency to believe they never will get caught.

But if it helps deter even a few people -- and alerts others to potential threats in their neighborhoods -- the registry is well worth it.

Go to: http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/methor/

 Excerpted from The Leaf-Chronicle, Clarksville, Tennessee, USA