Sex Offenders On the Way Out
From the pages of the AJC:
Law has offenders on the move
Legislation leaves sex violators few options in metro counties
By KATHY JEFCOATS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/22/06
More than 90 percent of the 300-plus registered sex offenders in Clayton and Henry counties will have to move or change jobs in coming weeks, according to sheriff's deputies who track the offenders.
For years, it's been illegal for sex offenders to live within 1,000 feet of schools. A new law that takes effect July 1 makes it illegal for sex offenders to live near any place where children might be, including school bus stops and churches. Offenders will have fewer choices about where to live, work or go to school.
"The law is leaving them with very little options on where they can live," Henry sheriff's Maj. Keith McBrayer said. "It's almost hard to go to any metro county and be in compliance. About the only way to not be in violation is to be in a rural area without kids."
McBrayer said there are 108 active registered sex offenders ("active" does not include registered sex offenders who have absconded or who are incarcerated) in Henry County. Of those, 100 have been sent letters telling them they have to move. In Clayton County, reserve Deputy Ray Sanford said about 90 percent of 216 active registrants have to move.
An additional 38 offenders live in another county but work in Clayton. Those offenders must register with both the county where they live and the county in which they work.
"They are looking at losing their jobs if bus stops or playgrounds are close to where they work," Sanford said. "There's no choice."
Sanford said 100 percent of registrants in one Clayton city will have to relocate. Offenders in violation have seven days to move. Those who fail to comply face jail time.
"We don't want to identify that city because we're afraid they'll take off and run," he said. "If they go underground, we'll have to hunt them, get felony warrants and send them back to prison."
'Our hands are tied'
Since Henry sent out letters about the law, Sanford said he gets 10 calls a day from offenders wanting to relocate to Clayton.
"They [offenders] are very concerned, and I don't blame them," he said. "Everybody's trying to do the right thing, but I am afraid a lot of people will be hurt. But there's nothing we can do about it. Our hands are tied."
Sanford is working on a computerized mapping system to identify places off limits to sex offenders. Clayton sheriff's Deputy Richard Moen verifies the addresses of offenders.
"Right now, we're looking at dots on top of dots," Moen said. "This county is just saturated. There's no place that's not in violation of the law."
First and foremost: school bus stops. Clayton has more than 6,000; Henry's list tops 14,000. But the law also includes places of worship; that sometimes means storefront churches inside strip malls.
Restrictions welcomed
The new law reduces the amount of time an offender has to register, from 10 days to five. The length of time they stay on the registry increases from their term of probation to a lifetime unless offenders pleaded as first offenders.
Clayton Sheriff Victor Hill said he's satisfied with the new restrictions. "I'm glad the law is tough," Hill, a former state representative, said. "I don't feel sorry for them, they shouldn't be out there messing with children."
Fayette County District Attorney Scott Ballard is also pleased. In the past two years, his office has prosecuted a dozen men for online sexual contact with a person they thought was an underage girl. The person was actually an undercover Peachtree City police officer.
"Their lives are about to become very restricted, absolutely," he said. "The state policy is very clear: we're expanding the number of places we don't want perverts living, and we'll apply it to the nth degree."
McBrayer said he's getting calls from people concerned about both sides of the issue. "Citizens want to know what the new law requires," he said. "And sex offenders want to know what they are supposed to do about a place to live. If the law says you can't stay, you gotta go. It really is a big issue, one that affects so many people."
Law has offenders on the move
Legislation leaves sex violators few options in metro counties
By KATHY JEFCOATS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/22/06
More than 90 percent of the 300-plus registered sex offenders in Clayton and Henry counties will have to move or change jobs in coming weeks, according to sheriff's deputies who track the offenders.
For years, it's been illegal for sex offenders to live within 1,000 feet of schools. A new law that takes effect July 1 makes it illegal for sex offenders to live near any place where children might be, including school bus stops and churches. Offenders will have fewer choices about where to live, work or go to school.
"The law is leaving them with very little options on where they can live," Henry sheriff's Maj. Keith McBrayer said. "It's almost hard to go to any metro county and be in compliance. About the only way to not be in violation is to be in a rural area without kids."
McBrayer said there are 108 active registered sex offenders ("active" does not include registered sex offenders who have absconded or who are incarcerated) in Henry County. Of those, 100 have been sent letters telling them they have to move. In Clayton County, reserve Deputy Ray Sanford said about 90 percent of 216 active registrants have to move.
An additional 38 offenders live in another county but work in Clayton. Those offenders must register with both the county where they live and the county in which they work.
"They are looking at losing their jobs if bus stops or playgrounds are close to where they work," Sanford said. "There's no choice."
Sanford said 100 percent of registrants in one Clayton city will have to relocate. Offenders in violation have seven days to move. Those who fail to comply face jail time.
"We don't want to identify that city because we're afraid they'll take off and run," he said. "If they go underground, we'll have to hunt them, get felony warrants and send them back to prison."
'Our hands are tied'
Since Henry sent out letters about the law, Sanford said he gets 10 calls a day from offenders wanting to relocate to Clayton.
"They [offenders] are very concerned, and I don't blame them," he said. "Everybody's trying to do the right thing, but I am afraid a lot of people will be hurt. But there's nothing we can do about it. Our hands are tied."
Sanford is working on a computerized mapping system to identify places off limits to sex offenders. Clayton sheriff's Deputy Richard Moen verifies the addresses of offenders.
"Right now, we're looking at dots on top of dots," Moen said. "This county is just saturated. There's no place that's not in violation of the law."
First and foremost: school bus stops. Clayton has more than 6,000; Henry's list tops 14,000. But the law also includes places of worship; that sometimes means storefront churches inside strip malls.
Restrictions welcomed
The new law reduces the amount of time an offender has to register, from 10 days to five. The length of time they stay on the registry increases from their term of probation to a lifetime unless offenders pleaded as first offenders.
Clayton Sheriff Victor Hill said he's satisfied with the new restrictions. "I'm glad the law is tough," Hill, a former state representative, said. "I don't feel sorry for them, they shouldn't be out there messing with children."
Fayette County District Attorney Scott Ballard is also pleased. In the past two years, his office has prosecuted a dozen men for online sexual contact with a person they thought was an underage girl. The person was actually an undercover Peachtree City police officer.
"Their lives are about to become very restricted, absolutely," he said. "The state policy is very clear: we're expanding the number of places we don't want perverts living, and we'll apply it to the nth degree."
McBrayer said he's getting calls from people concerned about both sides of the issue. "Citizens want to know what the new law requires," he said. "And sex offenders want to know what they are supposed to do about a place to live. If the law says you can't stay, you gotta go. It really is a big issue, one that affects so many people."
posted by Austin O. Jones | 8:06 PM
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