Sex offenders supervised by other jurisdictions and having employment in Rabun County are required to report to the Rabun County Sheriff. Sex offenders who visit or have a second residence in Rabun County and who are in Rabun County for 14 consecutive days or for an aggregate total in excess of 30 days in a calendar year must register in Rabun County as well as in the county of their primary residence.

Details for all GEORGIA offenders are found at gbi.georgia.gov/Georgia-sex-offender-registry

Details for all offenders registered throughout the United States are found on the national registry at www.nsopw.govSex offenders are not automatically assigned a RISK ASSESSMENT LEVEL. Some individuals have been assessed a risk level under the following assessment criteria:

OCGA §42-1-12(4) “Assessment criteria” means the test that the Sex Offender Registry Board members use to determine the likelihood that a sexual offender will commit another criminal offense against a victim who is a minor, or commit a dangerous sexual offense. The Board shall place sexual offenders into one of the following risk assessment categories:

1) Level I: A sexual offender placed into the level 1 assessment classification has been determined by the Board to have a low recidivism risk for future sexual offenses.

2) Level II: A sexual offender placed into the Level II risk assessment classification has been determined to have an intermediate risk for future sexual offenses. This group of sexual offenders shall include all sexual offenders who do not meet the criteria for classification either as a sexually dangerous predator or for Level I risk assessment.

3) Sexually Dangerous Predator: A sexual offender placed into the Sexually Dangerous Predator risk assessment classification has been determined by the Board to be at risk of perpetrating any future dangerous sexual offense as defined by law.

WHY DO SOME SEX OFFENDERS HAVE DIFFERENT RESTRICTIONS?

In 1996 Georgia legislators enacted laws to monitor sex offenders. Every year the sex offender laws are reviewed and sometimes revised. Residency, employment and loitering restrictions for sex offenses are not

retroactive, but are based upon the law that was in effect on the date of the sexual offense. Offenses committed prior to 6/4/2003 have no residency or employment restrictions; however, all sex offenders are required to adhere to strict registration requirements.

REVISED RESTRICTIONS according to dates of offense committed between 6/4/2003 – 6/30/2006, sex offenders cannot reside within 1,000 feet of any child care facility, school, or areas where minors congregate (public & private parks, recreation facilities, playgrounds, skating rinks, neighborhood centers, gymnasiums and similar facilities providing programs or services directed towards persons under 18 years of age). OCGA 42-1-17.

For offenses committed between 7/1/2006 – 6/30/2008 the above restrictions were in place, with the addition of school bus stops, churches and public and community swimming pools. Additional restrictions were put in place for employment and loitering which restrict sex offenders from being employed or loitering within 1,000 feet of the previously-named areas.

For offenses committed on 7/1/2008 or after, all of the above residency and employment restrictions are in place, with the addition of volunteer activity, and residency, employment and loitering restrictions within 1,000 feet of churches.

Restriction on Photography O.C.G.A. 42-1-18 (b): No person required to register as a sexual offender pursuant to Code Section 42-1-12 shall intentionally photograph a minor without the consent of the minor’s parent or guardian. (c) Any person who knowingly violates this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor or a high and aggravated nature.

Can a sex offender live with children? If a sex offender is NOT on probation, they may be able to live with children.

If a sex offender is on probation, they generally are not allowed to have contact with children. The probation parameter for contact with minors is as follows:

“You are to have no contact, whether directly in person or indirectly through any means of communication or through employment, volunteer activity or otherwise with any child under the age of eighteen (18), including your own children, nor with any person unable to give consent because of mental or emotional limitations. Neither shall you attempt contact with the aforementioned except under circumstances approved in advance and in writing by the Court. If you have incidental contact with children, you will be civil and courteous to the child and immediately remove yourself from the situation. You will discuss the contact at your next meeting with your probation officer.”

Some offenders on probation have court ordered modifications for contact with their own children.