The Sex Offender Registry

A Valuable Community Tool

By Sheriff Frank Reynolds

One of the many duties of the sheriff is to maintain the sex offender registry for the county. The Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) 42-1-12 states the “Georgia Bureau of Investigation or any sheriff maintaining records required under this code section shall release relevant information collected under this code section that is necessary to protect the public.”

For an offender to qualify for registration in the state of Georgia, he/she must either be released from prison or placed on probation, parole, or supervised release after July 1, 1996. If an offender who is registered in another state moves to Georgia, he/she is required to register here.

The offender must be convicted of a crime that is by its nature a sexual offense. These crimes (which are listed in O.C.G.A., Title 16, Chapter 6) include:

• Rape
• Sodomy (against a minor); Aggravated Sodomy (against a minor or an adult)
• Statutory Rape (unless the perpetrator is 18 years or younger)
• Child Molestation; Aggravated Child Molestation
• Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes
• Aggravated Sexual Battery

In relation to crimes where the victim is a minor, O.C.G.A. 42-1-12 includes the following offenses under (a)(4)(A):

• Kidnapping of a Minor (except by a parent)
• False Imprisonment of a Minor (except by a parent)
• Criminal Sexual Contact Toward a Minor
• Solicitation of a Minor To Engage in Sexual Contact
• Use of a Minor in Sexual Performance
• Solicitation of a Minor To Practice Prostitution
• Any Conduct That by Its Nature Is a Sexual Offense Against a Minor

The Cherokee Sheriff’s Office (CSO) has a team of dedicated investigators that ensures persons listed on the Registry are in strict compliance with Georgia law throughout the year. This is achieved through annual fingerprints and updated photographs, regular contacts through face-to-face meetings, home visits, and unannounced field interviews. Additionally, the CSO requires strict guidelines during holidays like Halloween. Offenders who fail to report or are in violation of the law or court orders are taken into custody and brought before a judge.

The Cherokee County Sex Offender Registry can be viewed at CherokeeGa-Sheriff.org. Please refer to the link “Sex Offender Registry.” This link enables you to enter an address to identify registered offenders in your area, and it provides you with the name, address, and original offense. You may also call our Criminal Investigations Division at 770-928-0239 for additional questions or comments.