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New Restrictions for Georgia Sex Offenders

Georgia's General Assembly has passed a bill (SB101) prohibiting any convicted sex offender from living within 1,000 feet from schools, daycare centers, and other 'areas where minors congregate,' including all public and private parks and recreation facilities, playgrounds, skating rinks, neighborhood centers, and gymnasiums.

"The truth is that convicted child molesters and children should not mix," said Senator David Adelman, author and leading proponent of the bill.

With this new legislation, Georgia joins a list of at least 10 states – including Alabama, Louisiana, and Kentucky – that have passed similar laws that mandate a buffer between convicted sex offenders and children.

Today, at least 262 convicted sex offenders reside 1,000 feet or less to a Georgia public school, 113 of which having been convicted of child molestation or aggravated child molestation.

"Studies have shown that often people who have tendencies to commit sexual crimes against children will purposefully put themselves in places where potential victims are nearby," says Adelman. Those who fail to comply with the new code will be guilty of a felony and could face up to 3 years in prison.

In accordance with federal law, all sex offenders must register with their state's public registry. InfoMart can provide a sex offender registry search as a part of your applicant background screen. For more information on this service, please contact 770-984-2727 or sales@infomart-usa.com.

(Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)