Ga. sex offender registry problems cost the state federal funds
An interesting article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution
Shortcomings in Georgia’s sex offender registration program are going to cost the state hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal grant money, according to a letter the U.S. Department of Justice sent to the governor.
The state receives from $4.9 million to almost $5.9 million annually from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant and has spent the money on several legal initiatives, but problems with the sex offender registry could cost Georgia 10 percent of its allotment.
There are 22,345 names on Georgia’s sex offender registry, which is available to the public to track sex offenders in their communities, including information on where they live.
The Department of Justice has found the state’s registry deficient each year since 2012 for failing to gather a variety of information on convicted sex offenders.
One of the shortcomings the federal money would have to address is work to assess the risk that each offender poses to commit another sex crime.
Federal law requires that each offender be classified as either Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 by a specially appointed Sex Offender Registration Review Board. The classification system helps local law enforcement focus on monitoring those sex offenders who pose the greatest danger.
Notably, Florida does not have tier levels either. We just have offenders and predators.
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So do all of the states that do not have a Tier system now either have to fully comply, or lose Federal funds?
I wonder if the DOJ does this type of report on each state? I would like to see what FLs says. It is interesting the discrepancy in how this article is worded compared to FL. I asked once long ago why FL was allowed to have lifetime etc. and still be found in compliance with SORNA. The answer I received was that a state has to be a certain percent compliant to receive funds but they were allowed to increase the restrictions as long as they had the minimum. But FL does not have the minimum? I always thought that was bizarre because part of the guidelines is the assessment part and the tiers. It has never made sense to me. What is GA policy now?
So then why doesn’t Florida have a lawsuit against it or a probe from the feds for not having a tier system and misusing federal funds? Because the taxpayers of Florida don’t know about it for one, and don’t put forth the effort to keep their elected officials accountable. We the US citizens have lost our country and now we have we out of control govt that can basically do whatever it wants and there’s nothing we can do about it. Sad, but true. And all of y’all know it.
Exactly why does Florida, and WV not suffer the same as Georgia. Neither has a Tier system, they only have two classes and lifetime registration. They and all states need to have actual risk assessments, and Tier systems or no list at all.
A tier system would require effort on the part of some politicians and that would interfere with time for their ‘two martini’ lunches. It’s easier to just lump all RSO’s into one category and ‘feel good about a job well done’.
So why isn’t Florida getting docked also if they also don’t have tiers?
Florida has been “deemed” in compliance for years now was Georgia even “deemed” to be in compliance ever?
Florida has either ‘do-gooder’ politicians or ‘Jack the Rippers’. One is either totally good or totally evil…no redeeming graces.
I dare you to pick the lesser of two evils.
In my book they are both just as evil. It’s those in between who are having to pay a dear price with their liberty. We have politicians who believe they are doing a ‘holy service’ in protecting society and the true threats to society who give a bad rap to all RSO’s.
” ‘do-gooder’ politicians or ‘Jack the Rippers’.”
I call that a double-edged sword. Two blades from the same handle and they can both go either way.