Lindsay Anleitner didn't know until recently that the man living across the street from her is a convicted murderer.

Anleitner, who lives in a condominium on a quiet, tree-lined street in Valparaiso, said her sister was checking Porter County's sex offender/violent offender registry and stumbled on a murderer on Anleitner's street.

Violent offenders were just added to the registry on July 1. Now, near the first anniversary of requiring convicted killers to join sex offenders on the registry, authorities say the end result has been better-informed residents.

"I think it's a good thing," Anleitner said of the registry.

"It's good to know who your neighbors are."

Anleitner said her neighbor -- convicted murderer Richard Augustine, 70, who has been out of prison for more than a dozen years -- "seems like a nice guy." Although Augustine never disclosed his past to Anleitner, she said she still feels safe at her home despite the news.

Anleitner, who has a daughter, said she'd be more concerned if a sex offender was nearby. She's looking to move to a larger home and plans to check the offender registry before buying.

In Kouts, neighbors of Daniel Hubinger, 49, who was released from prison eight years ago after serving time for voluntary manslaughter, describe Hubinger as a great neighbor.

"Dan's a hell of a guy," said neighbor Jack Crump.

"He's one of the most generous people you could ever come across."

Another neighbor, Kyle Garavalia, said her husband is best friends with Hubinger and their children love him.

"Dan's one of the best neighbors we ever had," Garavalia said.

Garavalia said Hubinger has been open about his past. She feels "he's done his time" and is the type of person that nobody who knows him now would peg as a criminal.

Not everyone who has lived next to a convicted killer has the same feelings. Jude Curio, who lives in a Portage-area mobile home, was next-door neighbors with convicted murderer J.R. Clemons Jr., 37, until Clemons moved away a few weeks ago.

Curio said she never had any problems with Clemons. Curio said Clemons even shoveled snow for her once. But she said Clemons got into violent arguments with his girlfriend, and she didn't think he was the ideal neighbor.

"Yes (I was concerned)," Curio said.

"I have my grandkids here."

Curio said she was disappointed the mobile home park didn't notify residents about Clemons. But she said she regularly checks the county's offender registry and even discovered a convicted sex offender living nearby. She shares whatever information she has with her neighbors.

"I like it," she said of the registry.

"I want to know what's around my grandkids."