Local parolees convicted of murder and violent crimes against will now be forced to register with local police departments in compliance with a new law that took effect Jan. 1, 2012.

Andrea’s Law, named after Andrea Willis, an Eastern Illinois University student killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1998, creates a first-degree murderer database, similar to the Illinois Sex Offender Registry.

The ex-boyfriend, Justin Boulay, formerly of St. Charles, was convicted of strangling the 19-year-old Batavia woman to death while both were students at EIU. Boulay was sentenced to 24 years in prison before a change to the state’s “Truth in Sentencing” system that required those convicted of crimes to serve 85 percent of court imposed sentences.

Under Andrea’s Law, convicted offenders are required to be on the Illinois Murderers and Violent Offenders Youth Registry for 10 years upon their release from prison.

There is only one parolee in the Palos area that is registered with the directory. 

Saul Duarte, 31, of the 8800 block of 98th Place in Palos Hills, was convicted of murder with intent to kill or injure when he was 19 years old, according to the registry. His victim was 16 years old. He is classified as compliant.

State Rep. Dennis Reboletti (R-Elmhurst) sponsored Andrea’s Law, which was signed into law by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn last July, as reported by Batavia Patch.

At the time the bill was introduced in the state house, Reboletti said, “We currently have the right to know when a convicted sexual offender moves into our neighborhood and it should be the same for someone convicted of murder.”

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--Dan Lambert contributed to this article.