FARGO - Officials are declaring success with a statewide search for registered sex offenders suspected of violating parole or probation. A handful of them are facing new charges.

Last week's sweep involved 32 North Dakota towns in an effort dubbed Operation Compliance.

Barb Breiland, a manager of the North Dakota Parole and Probation's sex offender program, said investigators often focus on large cities but the latest search also went into rural areas.

"We were able to get out into the more rural areas and we were able to do searches that possibly weren't done earlier," Breiland said at a news conference Monday.

Breiland said 94 searches were completed in four days, focusing on computer and Internet use. All but 17 of those involved registered sex offenders.

Authorities found seven people were violating conditions of parole or probation by having computer equipment in their homes. Of 78 computer searches, one person was found to have images of child pornography, and 18 people had other pornographic matter.

One registered sex offender was found to be in the presence of a minor without permission from parole officials. Other violations were found for possession of alcohol, drugs and firearms, Breiland said.

Officials found 43 violations in all, she said.

"I think we would have to seriously look at this again, because it was successful," Breiland said.

The communities in the search were Fargo, West Fargo, Wahpeton, Mayville, Thompson, Grand Forks, Grafton, Minto, Inkster, Orr, Larimore, Hannaford, Valley City, Lankin, Mountain, Jamestown, Dunseith, Granville, Bottineau, Minot, Max, Stanton, Bismarck, Mandan, Beulah, Zap, Dickinson, Belfield, Killdeer, Williston, Epping and Crosby.

U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley said authorities are making "constant effort" to come up with ways to keep people safe from sex offenders.