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Ga. Sex Registry Pulls Non-Offenders Onto List

Those who committed no sex offense are subject to harsh rules

By Clay Dillow,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 16, 2009 11:50 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Georgia’s sex offender registry includes rapists, child molesters, and, in a controversial move, a growing number of people who never committed a sexual offense, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Under the state's broadly written law, anyone convicted of kidnapping or false imprisonment of a minor goes on the list, too, regardless of whether a sexual crime occurred.

The registry imposes a kind of life sentence, restricting where offenders can live and work. About 90 people are on the list for kidnapping, another 90 for false imprisonment; records indicate just 33 actually committed a sexual offense. “Doesn’t it sound screwy what’s going on here?” asked one judge. Legislation is pending to amend the rules.

Omar Howard poses on the porch with his mother at her house where he planned to live while serving out his parole in Atlanta. Sex offender regulations have forced him to look elsewhere.
Omar Howard poses on the porch with his mother at her house where he planned to live while serving out his parole in Atlanta. Sex offender regulations have forced him to look elsewhere.   (AP Photo/John Amis)
Omar Howard is one of five sex offenders who filed a law suit claiming that the tough new Georgia law that bans them from volunteering at churches deprives them of their right to religious worship.
Omar Howard is one of five sex offenders who filed a law suit claiming that the tough new Georgia law that bans them from volunteering at churches deprives them of their right to religious worship.   (AP Photo/John Amis)
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We’re trying to clarify it. We need to concentrate solely on those who really are sex offenders so we know where they are to keep them away from children.
- Georgia State Sen. Seth Harp, Republican from Midland

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 9 comments
Ucantusethatname
Aug 27, 2009 8:43 PM CDT
Listing was enacted to help Georgians, the majority of whom do not know the difference.
Guest
May 16, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
unfortunately thats the way the U.S seems to be. If you think about it, the law really does no good, bcuz the only people who know who the registered offender is are his immediate neighbors. The offender could travel 10 miles outside his house and no one would recognize him at all. So the law is really worthless, but the lawmakers want people to think that it is saving lives. Meanwhile your point is valid. If you ever watch the first 48 hours on tv, most of the walking timebombs killing people have violent pasts, but they are not being monitored after release from prison.
Guest
Mar 19, 2009 1:58 AM CDT
Do we believe in serving one's time or not? Or does one mistake mean marked for life? Maybe we should just tattoo the offenders so we can more easily recognize them.

Georgia Senate approves easing sex registry laws; sends legislation to House
mysouthwestga.com

An unlikely interest group: sex offenders
Dallas Morning News

 
Atlanta • kidnapping • Georgia • sex offenders • parole • sex crime

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