Performance Audit  09-18

Why we did this review
The purpose of this audit was to
evaluate the accuracy of information
in Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry,
assess the usefulness of the registry for
law enforcement purposes, and
determine if the registry meets the
needs of the public. To meet our
objectives, we worked with staff from
numerous state and local government
agencies including the Georgia Bureau
of Investigation, the Georgia
Department of Corrections, the Sexual
Offender Registration Review Board,
and county sheriffs’ offices.
This report did not address larger
issues of sex offender management in
Georgia, including the effectiveness of
residency restrictions and other
enforcement issues, except as they
affect database accuracy and
completeness.

Who we are
The Performance Audit Operations
Division was established in 1971 to
conduct in-depth reviews of state
programs. The purpose of these
reviews is to determine if programs
are meeting their goals and objectives;
provide measurements of program
results and effectiveness; identify
other means of meeting goals; evaluate
the efficiency of resource allocation;
and assess compliance with laws and
regulations.
Website: www.audits.ga.gov
Phone: 404-657-5220
Fax: 404-656-7535

July 2010

Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry
Opportunities exist for improving Registry’s
accuracy and usefulness
What we found
The basis of Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry (SOR) is an
outdated and inflexible computer system, resulting in a registry
that does not fully meet the needs of law enforcement or the
public. The SOR should provide law enforcement with an efficient
and effective method of monitoring sex offenders and investigating
sexual offenses; its associated website should inform the public of
risks presented by sex offenders. However, each contains
incomplete, inaccurate and outdated information regarding the
number and characteristics of offenders living or working in an
area.
We found that the SOR does not contain all information that is
required by state law and collected from offenders. Offenders are
not always added in a timely manner; once added, their physical
descriptions and photographs are not updated often enough. The
registry also contains many data entry errors, including in data
fields such as street address and city that would impact the
reliability of geography-based search results. Regarding the SOR
website, it does not provide complete information for the public,
such as the offender’s risk to reoffend or those offenders working
or going to school in a particular area. It also does not inform the
public that most sex crimes are committed by acquaintances of
their victims, not unknown registered sex offenders.
The issues identified result in different consequences for law
enforcement and the public. For example, sheriffs may be aware of
the sexual offenders in their counties, but they cannot rely on the
database as a tool for managing offenders or investigating crimes.
Instead, they employ an inefficient practice of maintaining
separate, local databases of area offenders. The errors in the
database and the incomplete information on the state website may
misinform the public about the number of offenders and the threat
posed by offenders in their community.

The SOR deficiencies should be addressed in a variety of ways, including improvements in the use of
technology, changes to state law, and improved management and/or practices in the agencies that have
responsibilities for the SOR – the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI), the Department of Corrections
(GDC), the Sexual Offender Registration Review Board (SORRB), and the sheriffs’ offices.
The SOR’s technology appears to be a primary contributor to the deficiencies identified. In fact, several
practices that we identified as problematic are only in place because limitations in SOR technology
compelled the agencies to create a cumbersome “work around”. The SOR is maintained on a mainframe
system that is not easily adapted, resulting in a SOR that does not contain all information required by
frequently changing state law. In addition, the system does not allow for adequate transfers of
information from other agencies, such as GDC, that often possess information that is more up-to-date
than the SOR. The database does not contain adequate validity controls, which would reduce data entry
errors and ensure that reported addresses are valid, nor does it contain an adequate method to track who
changed specific information. Finally, the SOR has only limited automated notification functions,
resulting in a greater reliance on telephone, email, and fax communications between sheriffs’ offices than
should be necessary.
Amending several provisions in state law would also improve the maintenance of the SOR. Currently,
sheriffs are required to maintain local SOR websites, resulting in the creation of 160 “official” taxpayerfunded sites. Each time an offender moves to or within a county, the sheriff is required to update two
databases. When only one is updated, the public is presented with conflicting information. The SOR law
should also clarify which agency has the authority to determine registry eligibility and which agency is
responsible for updating the status of re-arrested offenders. SOR law should also be amended to require
that offenders convicted of a sexual offense against an adult prior to July 1, 2006 be subject to the SORRB
risk classification process. Finally, state law could also be changed to facilitate the sharing of information
currently maintained by two state agencies – the State Board of Pardons and Paroles (SBPP), which
classifies sex offenders for its own purposes, and the SORRB.
Regarding state and local agency practices, we identified a number of improvements that could be made
by most entities.


GBI, which has primary responsibility for the SOR and the state website, should take a proactive
role in managing the program. We found that the program’s policies and procedures,
performance monitoring, and management oversight need to be improved.



GDC has recently taken a number of steps to improve its identification and registration of
offenders. However, we found that GDC management should improve its oversight of the
practices of facilities and probation offices, which inconsistently meet registration deadlines.



SORRB should take a number of steps to improve the efficiency of its operations, including
coordinating with GDC and SBPP to ensure that SORRB investigators do not independently
obtain court records already in possession of a state agency and better utilizing existing software
for the management of its workload.



Sheriffs are responsible for updating offender addresses on the state SOR and should ensure that
they are updated in a timely manner. In addition, sheriffs who maintain a separate local SOR
website (as required by state law) should ensure that both the state SOR and local website are
updated with the correct address information.

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Table of Contents
Audit Objectives

1

Background

1

History and Purpose of Sex Offender Registries

1

Georgia’s Legislation

3

Georgia’s Registration Process

4

Georgia’s Sex Offender Population

8

Costs of Sex Offender Registration

8

Findings and Recommendations

9

Georgia’s system for registering sex offenders requires significant
improvements to meet the needs of law enforcement and the public.

9

The computer system used to store the state SOR is outdated and
inflexible to the extent that it must be replaced in order for the
Registry to meet the needs of state agencies and local law enforcement.

10

Current SOR laws hinder the maintenance of a complete and accurate
Registry, limiting its effectiveness as a tool for law enforcement and
the public.

16

GBI’s SOR website requires improvements to functionality and visual
appearance in order to provide users with better access to useful
information.

19

GBI has not established adequate management controls over SOR
program operations.

22

GDC largely meets its responsibilities regarding the maintenance of a
complete and accurate sex offender registry, but the agency could
make improvements in its monitoring and documentation.

26

Recent changes in SOR legislation will require collaboration between
GDC, GBI, and the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association (GSA) to ensure the
accuracy of registration information on incarcerated sexual offenders.

29

The state’s sex offender classification process is hindered by ineffective
relationships between agencies, inefficient management practices
within the SORRB, and the state SOR law.

30

Sheriffs’ compliance with their responsibilities for maintaining an
accurate state registry has been mixed.

35

The Georgia Sheriffs’ Association has made a significant contribution
to the development of standard procedures for sheriffs’ sex offender
registration, but continued efforts are required to enhance consistency
and ongoing compliance.

36

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ii

Appendix A: Objectives, Scope, and Methodology

38

Appendix B: Registration Information and Location

41

Appendix C: Registered Sex Offenders (RSO) by County, Gender, and
Number Incarcerated, as of July 2010

43

Appendix D: GBI SOR Website as of July 2010

47

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1

Audit Objectives
The purpose of this audit was to evaluate the accuracy of information in Georgia’s
Sexual Offender Registry (SOR), assess the usefulness of the registry for law
enforcement purposes, and determine if the registry meets the needs of the public. To
meet our objectives, we worked with the staff from the Georgia Bureau of
Investigation (GBI), the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC), the Georgia
Sexual Offender Registration Review Board (SORRB), and county sheriffs’ offices.
It should be noted this audit does not address larger issues of sex offender
management in Georgia, such as the effectiveness of residency restrictions and other
enforcement issues, except as they affect database accuracy and completeness.
Appendix A contains a detailed description of our Scope and Methodology.

Background
History and Purpose of Sex Offender Registries
Over the past 20 years a series of high profile sexual assaults against women and
children has garnered national attention and brought about significant changes in
federal and state sexual offender laws. Four major federal laws have passed, each
named for the victim whose assault prompted the legislation. The Jacob Wetterling
Act, passed in 1994, required states to establish registration programs for sex
offenders, including life-long registration for offenders classified as sexually violent
predators. Megan’s Law (1996) required states to establish public sex offender
registries and community notification programs. Also passed in 1996, the Pam
Lychner Sexual Offender Tracking and Identification Act required the U.S. Attorney
General to establish a national database of sex offenders. Finally, in 2006, Congress
passed the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. The Act provided
minimum standards for public sex offender registries, established a three-tier
classification system based on offense, and required sex offenders to periodically
verify registration information. (More information on the Adam Walsh Act is
provided on page 2.)
State sex offender registries (SORs) are lists of names, addresses, and other
information about individuals residing within the state who have been convicted of
particular crimes. Exactly who is required to register and the extent of registration
detail provided depends on state law requirements and technical capabilities of the
listing agency.
For law enforcement, sex offender registries allow officers to identify, monitor, and
manage sex offenders in their jurisdictions. Sex offender registration creates a
mechanism for 'keeping track' of convicted sex offenders and provides authorities
with a starting point when investigating sex crimes. Studies indicate that
registration assists law enforcement agents to apprehend suspects more quickly for
new sex crimes than those not publicly identified. However, registries are only useful
if the information contained within is accurate. For this reason, most law
enforcement agencies verify a portion of the information through in-person contacts
with the registered offenders.

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Adam Walsh Act
 
The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act (AWA) is a federal law that requires each state to maintain a sex
offender registry and notification program. The 2006 law established offender classification tiers and requirements
for registration, defined penalties for non-compliant offenders, created assistance programs to aid states with
compliance, and required states to participate in the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website.
The AWA classifies sexual offenders into three tiers based on criminal conviction. Tier I offenders, which are
presumed to be the least likely to reoffend, are required under AWA to register for 15 years and report annually for
address verification, or re-registration. Tier II offenders are required to register for 25 years and report for reregistration every six months. Tier III offenders, which are those offenders believed to pose the most significant risk
to society, are required to register for life and must report for re-registration every three months. The act also
defines where and when sex offenders must register. Sex offenders, including juveniles who were at least 14 years
of age or older at the time of the offense, must register in each jurisdiction where the offender resides, is employed,
or attends school within three days of being released from prison. Registered offenders are also required to update
changes to registration information no later than three days from time the information changes. Failure of a sex
offender to register or update registration information results in imprisonment for a period not to exceed 10 years.
States were expected to fully implement all requirements of the legislation by July 2009. States that were not
compliant within two years risked a 10% reduction in U.S. Department of Justice JAG/Byrne grant funds. States
were allowed to request extensions, provided efforts had been made toward compliance. To assist states with
compliance, the law established several assistance programs.
Not all states have elected to pursue compliance with the legislation because of concerns regarding some of the
law’s requirements. In fact, as of March 2010, Ohio was the only state to have substantially implemented AWA.
Sex Offender Management Boards in California and Colorado, in contrast, have recommended their states not
participate in AWA. The requirement to register juveniles has been widely criticized, as has assigning risk level
based on conviction type rather than research-based evaluations of an offender’s likelihood to reoffend. Lifelong
registration and retroactive registration requirements have also been criticized by state officials. For many states
cost is a significant concern, because avoiding the penalty imposed by the Justice Department does not offset the
costs to state and local jurisdictions for complying with the law, particularly costs to upgrade technology.
In 2006, Governor Sonny Perdue created Georgia’s Adam Walsh Act Work Group to evaluate the financial impact
and necessary policy changes for Georgia to become compliant with the federal law. The Work Group, led by the
Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, is made up of representatives from agencies across Georgia’s criminal
justice community, including GBI, the Sexual Offender Registration Review Board, Department of Corrections, the
Board of Pardons & Parole, Department of Juvenile Justice, Georgia Sheriffs Association, and the Office of the
Governor. The Work Group submitted an extension for Georgia for the July 1, 2010 compliance deadline. The
extension, which was granted, is effective until July 27, 2011. In the extension request, the Work Group noted
several areas where Georgia statutes do not currently meet AWA standards, including registration of all juvenile
and misdemeanor offenses, retroactivity, and how often offenders are required to verify registration information. No
legislation was passed during the 2010 session of the Georgia General Assembly to address these issues.

For the public, access to a sex offender registry is generally provided through a
public website and other methods of notification. State SOR websites provide a
subset of the information included on a state’s registry. Websites usually include an
offender’s name, address, photograph, basic physical description, and information
about the related offense. Additional information that may be provided in a registry
website includes an offender’s risk classification and a profile of past victims
(approximate age, gender). Websites may also provide the ability to map sex
offender locations or enable citizens to sign up for email notifications about sex
offender movement. Even when SOR website information is limited, the public can
be helpful to local law enforcement agencies by keeping them informed of
questionable or suspicious actions by registered sex offenders in their
neighborhoods.

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3

Georgia’s Legislation
Georgia’s SOR was created in 1996 with the implementation of O.C.G.A. 42-1-12. The
law has been amended numerous times, with the most significant changes occurring
during the 2006 legislative session. During that session, the law was re-written and
three new statutes were added: 42-1-13 (Review Board), 42-1-14(risk assessment
classification), and 42-1-15 (residency restrictions). In May 2010, the Governor
signed HB 571, which made a number of changes to the SOR law. Code sections 42-116 through 42-1-19 were added. The legislation added provisions for the registration
of homeless offenders, changed some reporting requirements for registered offenders
who move between counties, reduced minimum sentences for non-compliance,
created or expanded opportunities for appeal of registration requirements, and
changed the effective date of some residency restrictions. Collectively, the SOR laws
define who qualifies as a sex offender and outline the responsibilities of registered
offenders and the state and local parties involved in the creation and maintenance of
the Sexual Offender Registry.
The SOR laws list the types of offenses that require registration. These include those
termed a “dangerous sexual offense,” such as rape, sodomy, aggravated sexual
battery, and child molestation. They also include, among others, “criminal offense(s)
against a victim who is a minor,” which includes solicitation of a minor to engage in
sexual conduct, kidnapping of a minor [except by a parent], and any conduct which,
by its nature, is a sexual offense against a minor. Due to changes made over time, the
offenses prompting registration vary depending on the date of conviction.
Registered sex offenders face several requirements for compliance. Violations may
result in a new felony conviction and imprisonment of 1 to 30 years. Offender
requirements include the following:


Registration and updates – Each offender must provide required
information to GDC, register with the sheriff of his residence county within
72 hours of release, and ensure that the sheriff’s office is informed of any
changes to required information. (Changes to residence address are required
to be updated 72 hours prior to a move.) Moves to other counties require
notification to both the new and previous sheriff.



Re-registration – Each offender must renew registration annually, reporting
to the sheriff’s office 72 hour prior to his birthday for photographs and
fingerprinting. Offenders classified as sexually dangerous predators must
renew registration twice per year.



Electronic monitoring – Each offender classified as a sexually dangerous
predator is required to wear an electronic monitoring device for life. State
law requires the offender to pay the costs of monitoring. The associated fees
are paid to GDC if offender on is probation, the Board of Pardons and Paroles
(on parole), or the local sheriff (if no state supervision).



Residency and location restrictions – As of May 20, 2010, residency
restrictions are based on an offender’s conviction and incarceration status at
various dates (e.g., prior to 2003, after July 1, 2006.) For those to whom the
law applies, an offender may not be allowed to reside within 1,000 feet of any
“child care facility, church, school, or area where minors congregate.”

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

4

Similarly, registered offenders may not be able to work or volunteer at a
child care facility, school or church; neither can they work or volunteer
within 1,000 feet of same. In addition, sexually dangerous predators may not
be employed or volunteer at any business or entity within 1,000 feet of “an
area where minors congregate.”
Georgia’s sex offender law also mandates responsibilities for the Georgia Bureau of
Investigation, Georgia Department of Corrections, the Sexual Offender Registration
Review Board, and Georgia sheriffs. In addition, state law requires the Departments
of Education, Early Care and Learning, and Human Services to disseminate sex
offender information to specified recipients (e.g., schools, child care centers, and
long-term care facilities) on an annual basis.
Who should be registered?
Determining whether an individual convicted in Georgia should be placed on the sex offender registry is a
complicated process because of nuances in the state’s sex offender law. For those convicted of offenses such as
rape or child molestation, identification for inclusion on the registry is relatively simple. GDC must only ensure that
the offense occurred after the sex offender act’s effective date or that the offender was arrested for a new crime after
the act’s effective date (which makes the older sex crime a registerable offense). Identification of offenders convicted
of other crimes is more complex. Crimes such as aggravated assault or false imprisonment may require registration,
but it depends on the nature of the assault and/or the age of the victim. These determinations may require additional
information from the courts or district attorneys, which can take days or weeks to obtain. Depending on the
circumstances, individual decisions may require review by GDC legal staff.
Determining whether an offender convicted in another state should register in Georgia can be even more
complicated due to variations in sex offender law and criminal codes in each state. In addition, GBI has the added
difficulty of obtaining relevant documentation from out-of-state entities. According to GBI, many decisions regarding
registration eligibility for those moving to Georgia are ultimately made by the agency’s attorney “after significant
review of information obtained by GBI program staff.”

Georgia’s Registration Process
As discussed above, a number of agencies have responsibilities that must be fulfilled
in order for the SOR and public website to be complete and accurate. Georgia’s
database contains a significant amount of information that must be obtained and/or
updated, including name, Social Security number, date of birth, race, sex, height,
weight, hair and eye color, photo, and address (see Appendix B for complete listing).
How this registry information is added or changed (and by which entity) depends on
where in the registration process the change occurs. We have identified four phases:
1.

Initial Registration – Individual is identified as an offender, required
information is collected, and offender is added to the database;

2. Classification and Risk Assessment – Information on a registered offender is
reviewed and his risk to reoffend is determined and noted in the database;
3. Maintenance – Information in the Registry is verified and updated as necessary
for the duration of registration; and
4. Removal – Offender is removed from the Registry.
As previously noted, the law determines the responsibility of each entity during each
phase of the registration process, including the communication of information
between entities. Exhibit 1 contains an overview of each phase, while additional
detail is provided below.

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5

Exhibit 1
Overview of Agencies’ SOR Responsibilities
Initial Registration

GBI

- Serves as contact for
other states who have sex
offenders moving to
Georgia
- Adds offenders moving
to Georgia to the Registry

GDC

- Identifies offenders
sentenced in Georgia
- Collects offender info
and informs offender of
state sex offender laws
- Adds offender to
Registry through GDC’s
information system

Sheriffs

SORRB

- Contacts GBI when
offenders report but are
not yet on the Registry

N/A

Classification and
Risk Assessment
- Updates offender
classification on the
Registry (currently only
note if offender is a
predator)

-Notifies SORRB of
pending releases 8
months in advance
-Notifies SORRB of
sentences to probation

Maintenance
- Sends reminders to
offenders that they are
required to report to sheriff
within 72 hours of birthday
(every six months for
predators)

N/A

- Updates offender
classification on their
local registry websites

- Updates offender address
whenever it changes
- Updates offender
information as a result of
annual (semi-annual for
predators) re-registration

- Classifies offenders as
Level I, II, or Sexually
Dangerous Predator.
Submits results to GBI,
GDC, Sheriff and others

-Notifies Sheriff and GBI if
changes made to
classification as a result of
appeals

Removal
- Removes
offenders from the
Registry upon
death, order from
Superior Court or
other legal review,
or deportation

-Requests removal
based upon order
from Superior Court
or other legal
review

-Submits death
certificates to GBI
as applicable

N/A

Source: Review of state law and agencies’ policies and procedures

Initial Registration
Most offenders on the SOR are from Georgia and have been identified as required to
register by GDC staff. If incarcerated, an individual is processed as a sex offender by
a GDC Sex Offender “Point of Contact” just prior to release from the facility. If
sentenced directly to probation, he is processed by his GDC Specialized Probation
Services officer. Once GDC identifies an individual for inclusion on the SOR, the
offender must fill out a six-page Sexual Offender Registration Notification (SORN)
form1 that captures the information required for the Registry and explains
registration requirements to the offender. (Appendix B lists the information
collected in the SORN.) Data from the SORN are entered into GDC’s SCRIBE
information system, which transmits a file with that information to GBI each night,
for update in the CJIS network, completing the registration process. GDC staff also
fax a copy of the SORN to GBI to be archived. (GBI uses the hard copy forms to
address problems with failed transmissions and to retain documentation of
information not maintained in the database.) According to GDC procedure, once a
prisoner is registered and prior to release, GDC staff email a “Sexual Offender
Release Form” to the sheriff’s office in the county where the offender will reside upon
release.
1

The SORN form itself was created and is updated as needed by the GBI.

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6

Before an offender moves to Georgia2, GBI is supposed to be notified of the offender’s
intent to relocate by the out-of-state registry or law enforcement jurisdiction. GBI
requests that the current jurisdiction have the offender complete and fax Georgia’s
SORN to GBI prior to his arrival. If that does not occur, the offender will complete a
SORN if he checks in at the sheriff’s office in the Georgia county in which he will
reside. The sheriff’s office submits a copy of the registration form to GBI. GBI
conducts research to determine whether the offender is required to register in
Georgia. If the offender is required to register, GBI enters the SORN information into
the registry database. A confirmation is provided to the home state’s registry staff, so
that their registration database can be updated with the offender’s new address.
Classification/Risk Assessment
Since 2006, the SORRB has been tasked with classifying offenders as Level I, Level II,
or Sexually Dangerous Predator before they leave prison or when they are sentenced
directly to probation. The SORRB is also addressing the backlog of offenders that
were not classified prior to being placed on the SOR. SORRB classifications are
based on assessments of the propensity for the offender to commit another sexual
offense, as determined by the Board’s clinical staff using research-based risk
assessment tools and evaluation methods. Between June 2007 and August 2009,
distribution of classifications was as follows3:


Level I (lowest risk) – 838 offenders, (67% of total assessments)



Level II – 342 offenders, (27%)



Predator (highest risk) – 68 offenders, (5%)

Classification information is currently not part of the SOR database, except for a Y/N
field for “predator”, which is updated by GBI staff upon notification by the review
board. The public registry website contains a single Absconder/Predator field that
lists an offender as “ABSCONDER”, “PREDATOR”, or “NO”. State law requires that
sheriffs’ local websites contain the classification assigned by the SORRB as well as
an explanation of each classification level.
Maintenance
Sheriffs have primary responsibility for maintaining the accuracy of listings for sex
offenders in their jurisdictions, even for those offenders housed in a state prison or on
parole or probation. This responsibility lasts for the duration of the offender’s
residence in that county, and as long as an offender is required to be registered. GBI
staff takes general responsibility for updating SOR data fields that are not accessible
to sheriffs and for correcting errors identified by others who do not have access to
the system. The maintenance of the SOR begins with an offender’s initial contact
with the sheriff’s office and continues through required annual or semi-annual reregistrations.


2

Registration Verification – Upon first reporting to the sheriff’s office, an
offender is required to complete and sign another SORN. Authorized sheriff
office personnel then update information on the Registry through CJIS.
Concurrently, sheriff staff provides the offender with copies of applicable

If an offender is still on parole or probation in his home state but requests to move to Georgia, his
transfer is covered by Interstate Compact and his registration in Georgia will be managed by GDC.
3
Figures do not add to 100% because of rounding.

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7

laws, obtains fingerprints and photographs of the offender, adds the offender
to the Sheriff’s website, collects a $25 notification fee, and determines if
residence and employment plans are compliant with state law. If the
offender fails to report within 72 hours of release from prison (or sentence to
probation), the sheriff’s office is expected to update the Registry with
“address unknown” and to request an arrest warrant. The change to the
address field labels the offender as an absconder within the SOR database
and on the state SOR website.


Required Updates – Sheriffs are also responsible for ensuring that the
information maintained in the Registry remains accurate. The offender is
required to report to the sheriff any change in residence 72 hours prior to a
move, and any other change in required information within 72 hours after
the change. Sheriffs have a similar time frame to update the information in
the state Registry once they have been notified of a change. The sheriff must
also verify that changes to an offender’s residence or employment are in
compliance with state law.



Re-Registration – Based on the residence information in the Registry, GBI
sends notifications to all offenders in the state, reminding them to renew
their registration as required. When offenders report to renew their
registration, the sheriffs’ office updates all information4 collected during the
initial registration and inputs address changes into the Registry within 48
hours. If the offender fails to re-register within 72 hours of his birthday, (and
six months afterwards if a sexual predator) the sheriff’s office is expected to
issue a warrant for failure to register and update the offender’s status in the
Registry as an absconder.

The Georgia Sheriffs’ Association (GSA) provides regular training on sex offender
management to sheriff office staff. It also sponsors the Sex Offender Registration
Task Force, a group of regional sheriffs’ representatives who provide training and
technical assistance to their counterparts.
Removal
GBI is the only agency with the authority to remove offenders from the Registry.
Sexual offenders are normally removed only upon death, deportation, or order from
Superior Court or other legal review. In the event of an offender’s death, the sheriff’s
office or GDC notifies GBI and provides a death certificate as evidence. If the
offender is deported, GBI removes him from the Registry upon confirmation of
deportation. Offenders convicted of less severe crimes may petition the superior
court of jurisdiction to be removed from the Registry ten years after completion of
sentence. Successful petitions must be forwarded to GBI to ensure removal.
If an offender moves out of Georgia, the sheriff’s office informs the jurisdiction of the
offender’s new residence and alerts GBI of the offender’s intent to move. GBI and the
other state are informed via the CJIS network when the sheriff has updated the
offender’s record with an out-of-state address. GBI then sends a notification letter to
the other state. The offender will be removed from the Registry’s public website but
will remain on the registry database.
4

While required to take a new offender photographs each year, sheriffs do not upload the photos to the
state registry. They are forwarded to GBI officials who determine if the photo needs to be updated.

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Georgia’s Sex Offender Population
As detailed in Exhibit 2 and Appendix C, there are approximately 17,500 sexual
offenders on Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry, 11,000 of which reside in Georgia
communities. The rest have moved out of state or are in custody for charges
unrelated to a sexual offense, for SOR-related offenses such as failure to register, or
for new sexual offenses. In Georgia, incarcerated offenders are not registered until
release from prison; GDC records indicate at least 6,000 more sex offenders are
currently in state custody for a first sexual offense and are not yet registered. On
average, sex offenders are between 26 and 45 years old, and approximately 60% are
Caucasian. Less than 500 registered offenders are female. Because most offenders are
registered for life, the number of registered offenders in the state is projected to
increase significantly over time.

Exhibit 2
Projected Increases in Georgia’s Registered Sex Offenders
2006
12,498

Offenders

2007
14,491

2008
16,136

2009
17,527

2010
(projected)
19,080

2020
(projected)
34,600

2030
(projected)
50,120

Figures are as of September of each calendar year.
Note: Projections assume an average increase of 1,550 offenders added to the database each year, and
no additional changes to legislation that could affect registration duration or eligibility.

Costs of Sex Offender Registration
We were unable to determine all of the costs associated with maintenance of the
state’s sex offender Registry, but Exhibit 3 includes budget and expenditure
estimates from the state entities most involved in the SOR. Our survey of Georgia
sheriff’s offices indicates a wide range of resources devoted to sex offender
management. Offices reported spending anywhere from less than an hour per week
to more than 400 hours per week, only in part dependent on the number of
registered offenders in each county.

Exhibit 3
Estimated State Agency Costs for SOR Activities
FY 2008
Actual
$283,666

FY 2009
Actual
$291,274

FY 2010
Budget3
$276,000

GDC2

330,364

342,158

340,000

SORRB

335,807

704,206

906,000

$949,837

$1,337,638

$1,522,000

GBI1

Total

Source: PeopleSoft, Salary and Travel
1. GBI’s expenses include reported program costs and the cost to mail annual
verification forms to all registered sex offenders.
2. GDC’s costs are based on salary and travel costs for the Sex Offender
Administration Unit for FY08-09, and estimated salary only for FY10.
3. Preliminary budget figures as of September 2009 for GBI and SORRB

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

9

Findings and Recommendations
Georgia’s system for registering sex offenders requires significant improvements
to meet the needs of law enforcement and the public.
As it currently operates, the Sexual Offender Registry (SOR) does not fully meet the
needs of law enforcement and the public. We found inaccurate and incomplete
information within the state’s registration database, insufficient or inaccurate
information on the websites provided to the public, and a variety of management
problems within and among the state and local agencies responsible for registration
and maintenance of registration information. The state can address the problems we
identified by improving the quality of technology, streamlining current SOR
legislation, and improving management processes at the state and local level.
The problems that we identified affect law enforcement and the public differently.
For law enforcement, the problems limit the GBI Registry’s usefulness as a law
enforcement tool and result in significant inefficiencies. For example, sheriffs’ offices
depend on local databases and files (re-created every time an offender moves, works,
or attends school in another county) because the state SOR neither captures all
relevant information nor has the capability to perform all useful searches that might
be needed by an investigator. For the public, the SOR problems provide inadequate
information as to the number of offenders regularly in their communities and the
risks posed by registered offenders and others. The public also cannot rely on the
state’s website for a current offender photo, physical description, or risk
classification.


Database Problems – The state’s SOR database does not offer complete
information about individual sex offenders. Inaccuracies frequently occur in
address fields and physical descriptions and access to enter or retrieve
information is severely limited. The database does not include all
information that offenders are required by law to provide upon registration.
Much of this information is important to law enforcement for sex crime
investigation and offender management. Any evidence of intentional address
inaccuracies is hard to identify, while accidental data entries are easy to
make. Finally, access to the system is so restricted that the individuals with
the most current information must rely on others to enter and retrieve data.



Website Problems – Over a hundred sex offender registry websites are
operated by GBI and local Georgia sheriffs. These websites require duplicate
data entry to populate and often contain discrepancies in the completeness
and accuracy of information presented. GBI’s SOR website, host to
approximately 8 million offender searches a year, does not contain
contextual information important to the public’s perception of risk and its
information is poorly presented. Further, it provides information only on
those registered offenders residing in a county; the public cannot identify
those offenders who go to school or work in that county.



Agency Process Problems – We identified a number of inefficiencies in
agency processes that contribute to the problems with the SOR database.
For example, significant delays occur in GBI’s addition of out-of-state
offenders to the Registry. Local variations exist in how quickly GDC

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

10

registers offenders released from prison or sentenced to probation. Risk
classifications performed by SORRB do not keep up with the tide of new
sexual offenders and classification results are not adequately communicated
to the public. Sheriffs are not consistent in their maintenance and updates of
registry information.
The current Registry’s inadequacies exist for a variety of reasons. Some of these are
inherent to the process of registering sex offenders and are not unique to Georgia.
For example, to a great extent, effective sex offender registration relies on the
cooperation of sex offenders themselves. Also, coordination among state and local
law enforcement, corrections agencies, and other state entities is difficult to
accomplish but critical to success. Georgia’s SOR problems begin with outdated
technology, particularly within GBI’s registration database, that impedes the
effective flow of information among agencies and requires a number of inefficient
“workarounds” to adapt to. Additionally, current sex offender legislation creates a
number of inefficiencies, although some were recently addressed by HB 571. Finally,
all of the entities involved can improve their own processes to facilitate better
management of information. The following findings detail the reasons the problems
have occurred and recommend solutions.
GBI’s Response: GBI’s responses to the audit’s statements about the database, website and GBI’s
program operations are included at the end of each finding, as applicable (pages 16, 21, and 25).
Overall, GBI cited a lack of funding and staffing as major obstacles to improvements in those areas.
GBI noted that for several years, “GBI management has endeavored to identify and overcome the
many challenges that exist in operating the Sex Offender Program with statutory responsibilities
split among many agencies and utilizing an obsolete computer system. The GBI has worked
collaboratively with other involved state agencies and the sheriffs’ offices in proposing solutions. It
has sought federal and state funding to implement solutions. For the most part, these efforts have
been unsuccessful.”
“The GBI appreciates the care with which the auditors reviewed the program. As stated, the GBI
intends to utilize information from the [report] to make improvements to the program procedures. It
is the GBI’s fervent hope that the [report] will result in sorely needed additional resources being
provided to the program, which will benefit both law enforcement and the public. The appropriate
allocation of resources, whether in the form of a new computer system or increased staffing, is the key
to an improved State Sex Offender Program.”

The computer system used to store the state SOR is outdated and inflexible to
the extent that it must be replaced in order for the Registry to meet the needs of
state agencies and local law enforcement.
The computer program that GBI uses to maintain the state’s SOR is of such obsolete
technology and restrictive design that its limitations are the source of much of the
inaccuracies and incompleteness we identified. Its current configuration imposes
barriers both to data entry and data retrieval. As a result, the state Sexual Offender
Registry does not meet the needs of the state and local agencies that register,
monitor, and manage sex offenders.

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

11

When the SOR law was passed in 1996, GBI created the new database on an existing
mainframe platform. GBI officials can enter individual records and generate database
reports, while certain employees in sheriffs’ offices can access individual offender
records through Georgia’s Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) network. No
other entities have been provided access to the database itself, though, as shown in
Appendix B, a limited portion of SOR information is available on the GBI website.
We noted the following problems with ensuring that accurate and complete
information can be entered into the registry database:


Inflexible data structure leads to incomplete and inadequate registry
content. The GBI's Sex Offender Registry database does not contain all
information required to be obtained under state law, including information
considered to be useful for sex offender management. Data elements remain
virtually unchanged since originally defined in response to the 1996 law.
According to GBI computer staff, additions of new fields cannot be made
unless an existing data element is removed to make space. As shown in
Appendix B not all elements required by current law are maintained in the
database. An effective system would be easily adaptable to changes in law.
Legal compliance is not the only concern regarding the information stored in
the database. In our survey, 86% of the sheriffs’ offices responding stated
that having access to additional information would facilitate monitoring and
management of sex offenders; 90% noted that having access to additional
information would be useful to general law enforcement; more than half
noted they locally maintain information on aliases, vehicles, temporary
addresses, and “scars/marks/tattoos”, among other elements. This
information is collected on the SORN form, but since it cannot be stored in
the state SOR, sheriffs must maintain this type of additional information in
their own electronic or paper files, which are not readily available to other
jurisdictions. An effective system would provide the flexibility to add and
modify data as users require.



Overly restrictive access impedes accuracy and delays updates.
Inaccuracies in the SOR can be partly attributed to the limited number of
data fields that sheriffs are authorized to change. Currently, sheriffs’ access is
limited to updating residential, school and work addresses and indicating
incarceration. They cannot update other relevant and changing information,
such as the offender’s photograph and current weight. A comparison of a
sample of offender files on the state Registry and sheriff websites found that
the photographs showed significant differences5 for 19 of 69 offenders. The
weight varied by more than 20 pounds for 13 of 53 offenders. An effective
system would give users access to all fields for which they have the most
current information.
Because the SOR database is accessed through the CJIS network, access to
the SOR is currently limited to staff in sheriffs’ offices that possess National
Crime Information Center/GCIC certification. Generally, the officers
responsible for registering, monitoring, and managing sex offenders do not

5

Differences noted by the audit team included significant changes in hair length/color, facial hair, aging,
or noticeable weight change.

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

12

have the certification necessary to look up or update information in the
Registry. As a result, sex offender investigators and other law enforcement
officers must request assistance to retrieve information from the Registry, or
to have information changed. In our review of 14 counties demonstrating
what appeared to be extremely high numbers of offenders delinquent at
reporting, a majority cited limited access to the system as the cause of their
failure to update the GBI Registry with more recent residence verification
dates. An efficient system would give access to the users who most need it.


Inability to accept data transfers introduces opportunities for error and
delays input of important information. The technological limitations of
the SOR are a barrier to the transfer of information to GBI from external
entities. The GBI system is not equipped to accept the more current
information often contained in systems operated by GDC and many sheriffs’
offices. For example, local sheriffs must update information on each offender
in their own system, and then separately update the state SOR. The
duplication of efforts introduces opportunities for data entry error.
This inability also affects the timing of information entry into the system.
From its own system, GDC can transfer only new registrations to the SOR.
Bulk transfers of information on already-registered offenders are not
accepted by the current SOR system and updates must be handled
individually via the CJIS network. For this reason, GDC prison staff holds
registration until just before or after an offender’s release. This limitation
introduces a lag between release and registration if registrations are rejected
for technical reasons and prevents SORRB risk classifications from being
entered before an offender’s release. An efficient system would allow for
transfers of current information to automatically update the database.



Inadequate validation processes increase likelihood of errors and
increase risk of missed offenders. Accurate reports are dependent on the
entry of consistent information, but the SOR database has inadequate
validation processes to enhance accuracy. Examples of validation processes
include edit checks to limit the type of information entered in a field,
automatic entry of city names based on zip codes, or built-in links to address
databases that ensure offenders provide a valid address. The lack of these
processes increases the likelihood of inaccurate results when searching the
offender database. In a review of 50 address entries, we found 13 with errors
that would cause the offender not to turn up if searched by street name. A
similar problem exists when searching by city. For example, a citizen or
officer searching for offenders in Ball Ground, Georgia would find 12 but
would miss the 3 offenders listed as living in “Ballground”. At a minimum, an
effective system would guard against typographical errors. Ideally, the
system would automate the entry and verification of as many fields as
possible.



An incomplete “audit trail” reduces data reliability and impedes
troubleshooting. The current system identifies the last individual or
location to make a change in a registry listing, and notes the date that change
was made. However, the user cannot determine what fields were changed on
that date or their previous values. Similarly, there is no way to determine the

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

13

effective date of an entry such as an address. These gaps increase the risk
that newer information can be accidentally overwritten. This is especially
likely because of local delays in updating the GBI system as discussed above.
For example, an offender may be placed in County A’s jail on Monday and
his address immediately updated in the state SOR. However, on Wednesday
staff in County B finally enter the offender’s address provided two weeks
earlier at his annual verification. The inability to document the source and
timing of every change also limits the ability of GBI or local officials to act on
incorrect information once it is identified. This limitation will also impede
recommended efforts to improve the accuracy of the database. An effective
database would allow tracking of every entry, its effective date, and its
source.
In addition to the deficiencies related to entering information into the system,
sheriffs’ offices reported difficulties retrieving information once entered. These
deficiencies include:


Limited notification functions force reliance on person-to-person
communication among jurisdictions. Sex offender legislation requires GBI
to notify within 24 hours the sheriff of any county in which an offender
resides, works, or goes to school when that information is added or changed in
the Registry. Upon initial registration, the system provides automated
notification to the sheriff in the county where the offender will be residing,
but no notifications are sent when information changes. If an offender later
provides a new residence address, or a school or work address, in another
county, no message is sent. For this reason, the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association
recommends that the sheriff’s office in the offender’s current residence
county contact the sheriffs of the counties containing any new addresses. An
efficient and effective system would allow for complete reporting
capabilities to all relevant parties.



Lack of user search/report ability impedes sex offender monitoring and
management and impedes sex crime investigations. The system provides
no ability to create offender listings that are necessary for effective sex
offender management. For example, no mechanism exists to identify all
registered offenders residing, working, and attending school in a particular
county. Officers cannot track delinquent verifications, find new information
on absconders, or follow offenders in jail or prison. Instead of being able to
search for relevant factors, the officer must know each offender’s name or
other identifier in order to bring up his registration information, and can
look up only one offender at a time.
Because of this limitation, the Registry cannot be used as a tool to manage
sex offenders at the local level. As a result, 55 of our 100 sheriffs’ survey
respondents use the GBI public website to list offenders in their counties,
even though it contains less information. Another 31% use local websites or
internal databases to pull lists of local offenders. In total, 97% of our
respondents stated the need to create lists of relevant offenders as part of
their sex offender management process. An efficient and effective system
would provide for standardized and ad hoc reporting capabilities to pull
information from the Registry as needed.

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

Cobb County’s Sex Offender Management System
The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office contracts with a private company to provide a web-based sex offender
registration, management, and community notification system. Sheriff’s Office administrative and law enforcement
staff were enthusiastic in their support of the OffenderWatch® system and its benefits for both managing sex
offender registration and investigating new sexual offenses. They stated that the system streamlines registration
and address verification processes, offers law enforcement and the public detailed maps containing offender’s
addresses and locations of prohibited areas, provides community email alerts, and allows for the transmission of
data from one jurisdiction to another. Additionally, the system collects and stores more information than the GBI
database and makes notifications to other agencies and the public easier to disseminate.
The OffenderWatch® system streamlines Cobb’s annual registration process. Information already in the system is
used to electronically populate forms, such as the 6-page SORN form. The system also produces a list of offenders
required to re-register in a given timeframe, so that Cobb staff know which offenders to expect for re-registration. If
required information is not captured, the system will alert the user. Once the annual re-registration is complete, the
system provides the next scheduled registration date. Officers can also create lists of assigned offenders based on
address, making visits to offender homes or workplaces easier to plan and organize.
In contrast to the limited information on the GBI SOR database, Cobb officials can use the law enforcement-only
section to store detailed information on each offender, such as physical traits, scars, and tattoos; multiple
photographs, addresses and phone numbers; vehicle history, aliases, email addresses and screen names, and
more. Officers can also add notes to an offender’s profile, including notes from investigations and address
verification visits, expanded physical description details, conditions and restrictions of offenders on probation, past
addresses, tattoos, and vehicles, and offense information, such as the type of offense and victim information.
When a new sexual offense occurs, investigators can use the system to create a list of offenders matching certain
criteria, such as physical description, vehicle make/model, or victim information.
If other jurisdictions are using Offenderwatch®, the system will provide automatic notification and sharing of
information. When an offender moves to another OffenderWatch® county, the system notifies Cobb when the
offender registers in the new county. Cobb officials can then share relevant information on file by transferring the
offender’s file to the new county. Also, when an offender reports to Cobb sheriff’s office that they will be working or
attending school in another county, the system automatically notifies that county if it is part of the OffenderWatch®
network. Without OffenderWatch®, these notifications must be made via telephone or email.
The system also provides Cobb law enforcement officers and citizens detailed maps of offender locations. The
Sheriff’s Office worked with the vendor to input county-level GIS information and a list of restricted locations (e.g.,
schools, daycare centers). Sheriff’s staff or the offender can create a map showing the offender’s address with
flags to identify restricted locations that may be nearby. This function can be used in locating a suitable residence
for the offender that is not in violation of residency restrictions. On Cobb’s website, citizens can enter their home
address or other address of interest and generate a map pinpointing offenders in the area.
It should be noted that GBI cannot currently accept information transmitted from OffenderWatch® or any other
system; therefore, Cobb staff must separately update the GBI Registry.

14

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry


15

Limited search capabilities reduce access to and value of information
contained in the Registry. The need to search the registry database is not
limited to sheriffs’ management of sex offender registration. The system does
not allow for ad hoc reporting in order to identify suspects in new sex
crimes, for GBI and sheriffs to ensure data quality, or for providing relevant
information to state agencies, state leaders, law enforcement, and the press.
Search requests require a staff programmer to create and run them. An
effective system would allow for real-time searches by any number of
parameters without requiring programmer intervention.

Utilizing more current technology for maintaining the state SOR would enhance the
management of the Registry, enhance public safety, and facilitate compliance with
state law. It should be noted that GBI has made (unsuccessful) attempts to obtain
state and federal funding to develop a new SOR system since 2006, citing some of the
problems outlined above. However, it may not be necessary to design and develop a
new system. Commercial sex offender registration programs are an option used by
some other states and by local law enforcement agencies in Georgia and across the
country. In fact, as of July 2010, almost 40 Georgia sheriffs were listed as using the
product of one of these companies, WatchSystems, to maintain their sex offender
information and local SOR websites (see the case study on the preceding page about
Cobb County’s upgraded technology solution).
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. GBI management should pursue the development or purchase of a new system,
considering both state statute and the needs of SOR users, such as sheriffs’
offices, GDC, and the Sex Offender Registration Review Board.
2. GBI should ensure its new system balances the need to maintain data security
with the functional needs of the system’s users. Access to the system should be
tiered based on the user’s role and the user’s need to retrieve or submit relevant
information.
3. GBI should ensure that any new system addresses the problems identified in this
finding, and includes the following attributes:
a. Flexibility to add or modify fields as required
b. Ability to accept additions or updates transmitted by other systems in
real time
c. Enhanced validation process, such as edit checks and address validations
d. Documentation of content changes with their sources identified by user
and effective date
e. Expanded and easily-defined notification and reporting capabilities
f. Greater search capabilities
4. GBI should also consider our recommendations for improvements to its public
SOR website (pp. 20-23) when determining the functionality required for its
new system.
5. Because the successful implementation of a new SOR Registry affects multiple
state and local government agencies as well as the public, GBI should ensure that

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

16

best practices are followed for system implementation. The agency should
ensure all stakeholders’ needs are considered.
GBI’s Response: “The GBI agrees with the Draft Audit Report’s conclusion that the ‘computer
system used to store the state’s SOR is outdated and inflexible to the extent that it must be replaced’.”
GBI noted that it has previously made the same recommendation.
GBI also stated, “In the years prior to this Audit, the GBI has been proactive in its efforts to shed
light on the computer issues identified by the auditors in Recommendations 1 to 3. GBI has identified
each of these functionalities in previous briefing documents, presentations and grant applications.”
These documents were created and provided to various audiences including the Governor’s Office
and Georgia Board of Public Safety between 2005 and 2007.
“The GBI has sought either state or federal funds to develop and/or purchase a new computer system
since 2005. These efforts have been unsuccessful. On June 30, 2010, the Governor’s Office requested
another one-year extension for compliance with the Adam Walsh Act. The programming for a new
computer system will be dependent on the Governor’s decision regarding compliance with Adam
Walsh Act; however, regardless of that decision, a new system is sorely needed.”
Regarding Recommendation 2 (system access), GBI stated that state and federal laws limit the
ability to “submit information directly into the registry” to those individuals trained and certified to
use the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS).” GBI also noted that it is a resource issue for
sheriffs’ offices to determine how many staff members obtain NCIC/GCIC certification. “GBI has
been seeking funding for a web-based system, which could enable users to update/access SOR records
without requiring specific certification.”
Regarding Recommendation 4 (website improvements), GBI agrees, subject to their comments at the
end of our website finding on page 21.

Current SOR laws hinder the maintenance of a complete and accurate Registry,
limiting its effectiveness as a tool for law enforcement and the public.
With passage of House Bill 571 during the 2010 session, the General Assembly made
several changes to the state’s sex offender laws; however, these changes did not
address all provisions that make maintenance of an accurate and complete sex
offender Registry difficult. Our review found that the state’s SOR laws require
duplication of effort, do not clearly assign responsibility for all tasks, and do not
require the classification of all offenders. Addressing the following issues would
facilitate the state’s ability to maintain a complete and accurate sex offender
Registry:


Remove requirement for local websites – The requirement that each
sheriff maintain a website listing local sex offenders is inefficient, resulting
in a duplication of effort and the creation of up to 160 “official” state sex
offender registries. Since sheriffs are responsible for updating the state SOR,
a separate, local website requires sheriffs to update information in two
locations. As discussed elsewhere in the report, we found numerous

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

17

examples of discrepancies between local websites and the state Registry.
The sheriffs’ offices had updated one site but not the other, diminishing the
reliability of both. It should be noted that local websites can be beneficial,
especially in those counties that have the resources and commitment to
create a website with more comprehensive information than the state SOR
website.


Set policy for inclusion of work and school information in state and local
SOR websites. Current Georgia law sets no standard for the inclusion or
exclusion of this information, resulting in inconsistent information from one
website to another. The GBI website provides neither work nor school
information. However, we found that a few sheriffs post specific
employment information, others list the offender in a search of his county of
employment but do not give a work address; the balance do not provide any
employment information.
While other states generally provide this information to law enforcement,
they have established varying policies in determining whether a sexual
offender’s employment and education information should be made public.
Some states have decided that this information is relevant to the public’s
assessment of risk, if an offender spends most of his day in an area outside
his place of residence. Others limit this information, concerned that
providing employment information makes it harder for offenders to find jobs,
creating instability that may lead to recidivism. A December 2008 SOR
website survey (stateline.org) found that at least 18 states listed employment
information, but the level of detail varied. For example, one state showed
just the city and state of employment, another provided the name of
employer and the company’s address.



Address subsequent incarcerations of registered offenders – Prior to
passage of HB571, offenders were required to meet registration requirements
during subsequent periods of incarceration. Sheriffs in those counties with
state prisons had to work with GDC officials to track the movement of
incarcerated sex offenders in and out of their counties. The new legislation
removes the compliance requirements while an offender is incarcerated,
which is reasonable given that incarcerated offenders are not threats to the
community and do not need to be monitored by a sheriff. However, some
mechanism is needed to ensure that a registered offender’s entry and release
from incarceration are properly documented in the SOR.



Clarify authority for determining eligibility for Registry – While the law
states that GDC will register offenders convicted in Georgia, it does not
specifically state that authority for determining eligibility resides with GDC.
In fact, the SOR law requires that the clerk of the court send a copy of the
offender’s conviction to the SORRB, as if the clerk of the court is responsible
for identifying sexual offenders. As noted on page 6, GDC currently
identifies offenders sentenced in a Georgia court, but determining eligibility
for the SOR is not a straightforward process. The criminal offense may not
be the determining factor; instead, registration may be required by the
nature of the act(s) and the age of the victim. These complicating factors can
lead to disagreements between district attorneys and GDC, with sheriffs
caught in the middle.

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

18



Adjust registration and reporting deadlines for sexual offenders
sentenced directly to probation – The requirement that these offenders be
registered before placement on probation is impossible for GDC to meet.
Current law requires offenders not be “released from prison or placed on
parole, supervised release, or probation” until they are added to GBI’s
registry. This is a reasonable requirement for all offenders except for a
relatively small subset sentenced directly to probation without a period of
incarceration. In these cases, GDC probation staff first obtains notification
of the existence of these offenders when sentencing documents are received.



Expand risk assessment requirements – The SORRB does not assess all of
the populations required to register, which results in a group of offenders for
which recidivism risk will never be determined. For those convicted of
sexual offense prior to July 1, 2006, the SORRB can only perform risk
assessments if the criminal act was against a minor. For example, while an
offender convicted of rape of an adult (or released from prison for an earlier
rape conviction) on or after July 1, 1996 is required to register as a sex
offender, only those convicted for rape after July 1, 2006 are to be evaluated
by the SORRB. A similar gap exists regarding the assessment of those
sentenced directly to probation for a sexual offense.



Enable information sharing among agencies – The SORBB, GDC, and the
SBPP all obtain and review court documents and investigative files of sex
offenders. However, information obtained by SBPP cannot be shared with
the SORBB for its efforts to classify the risk of offenders. SBPP officials point
to O.C.G.A. 49-9-53(b), which classifies all documents provided to the SBPP
as “confidential state secrets” until declassified by the Board, as the reason
that the information cannot be shared.

It should also be noted that the law’s provision for lifetime registration will
contribute to a much larger Registry in the future. As shown in Exhibit 2 on page 8,
the number of registered sex offenders has grown significantly since 2006 and is
projected to double by 2020. (House Bill 571, passed during the 2010 session,
provides expanded opportunities for low risk offenders’ eventual removal from the
Registry upon appeal, but its impact on the projected increase is unknown at this
time.) The larger the registry, the more resources sheriffs’ offices must devote to
maintaining offender registration. Eventually, this will result in a large proportion of
resources being devoted to offenders who were convicted decades earlier and
classified as low risk by the SORRB, and who have not been arrested for a
subsequent sexual offense.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. The General Assembly should consider amending state law to make the creation
of a sheriff’s website listing local sex offenders optional. Sheriffs should be able
to link directly to their county’s offenders on the GBI site without the expense of
maintaining a separate website. Sheriff’s offices or county governments should
be able to maintain individual sites if they wish, especially given the current
deficiencies of the state Registry and website.

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

19

2. The General Assembly should consider setting policy as to whether employment
and school attendance information is made public on state and local websites.
3. The General Assembly should consider amending state law to make the sheriff
responsible for updating the state SOR when a registered sex offender is
incarcerated in a county jail. If transferred to state custody, GDC should be
responsible for updating the SOR to reflect incarceration in state custody.
4. The General Assembly should consider clarifying which entity or entities has
authority for determining if an offender is eligible for registration.
5. The General Assembly should consider consulting with GDC and sheriffs’
representatives to determine feasible registration and reporting timeframes for
those offenders sentenced directly to probation for a registerable sexual offense.
6. The General Assembly should consider modifying current sex offender
legislation for the Sexual Offender Registration Review Board to ensure that all
offenders required to register will have a risk assessment performed by SORRB.
7. The General Assembly should consider if the SORRB should be given an
exemption allowing it to obtain information from the SBPP. The information
could be limited to the same documents that it would otherwise receive from a
third party, as opposed to SBPP-created documents that contain SBPP analysis
of an inmate’s eligibility for parole.
8. The General Assembly should consider revisiting the requirement for lifetime
registration for all sexual offenders. In order to ensure that appropriate resources
are devoted to higher risk offenders, low-risk offenders who have not reoffended
for an extended period of time could be removed from the SOR.

GBI’s SOR website requires improvements to functionality and visual appearance in order to provide users with better access to useful information.
Although not required by state law, GBI officials created the state’s SOR website to
provide the public with basic information about the state’s sex offenders. The
website provides information such as an offender’s photo, address, crime, and
physical description, but it does not provide sufficient contextual information
regarding the risk posed by sex offenders, an important aspect for a public site. As
shown in Appendix D, it is also not well organized, giving poor placement to
important links and prominence to less relevant information. The result is an
inefficient tool for law enforcement and a poor resource for the public.
The limited attention given to design and management of the SOR website6 is not
commensurate with its use. The site hosts over 500,000 “page views” and
approximately 8 million sex offender searches in one year7. The website is the only
official resource where law enforcement and the public can access information on all
6

gbi.georgia.gov/00/channel_modifieddate/0,2096,67862954_87983024,00.html
Sex Offender Program pages represent 70% of the activity on GBI’s website, even without counting
multiple searches performed by an individual user.

7

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

20

registered sex offenders in the state of Georgia. It is used by law enforcement to
manage sex offenders and to review accuracy and completeness of local registry
listings. Our sheriff survey indicates that 55% of sheriff’s offices use the public
website to obtain lists of all sex offenders in their county, and 81% listed it as a
source of information used in managing sex offenders.
GBI’s SOR website does not provide users with valuable contextual information8
that can inform the public of the limitations of sex offender registries and explain
how to use (or not use) the information. Sex offender registries do not guarantee the
safety of the public; they simply provide law enforcement and the public with the
residential address of offenders convicted of specific offenses. Georgia’s website does
not provide users with basic information on typical offender/victim relationships
and limitations of the usefulness of a SOR for ensuring personal safety. As noted by
California’s Sex Offender Management Task Force9, community notification “is most
effective when provided in the context of broader community education about abuse
prevention, sexual victimization, sexual offenses, effective supervision and
management of sex offenders.” This is because studies have shown that
approximately 90% of sexual offenses are perpetrated by someone the victim knows
(e.g., family member, coach, teacher, etc.). In addition to offender listings, other state
registries include resources such as safety tips and detailed “Things You Should
Know” and “Myths and Facts” sections. Many of these resources are of great value to
informing the public of the risk posed by sex offenders. The audit team found that 40
of 49 other states include contextual information regarding the use and limitations of
information in sexual offender registries.
Additional misinformation comes from the way the SORRB’s risk classification
determinations are communicated on the GBI website. The U.S. Department of
Justice (DOJ) has noted that, “for sex offender registries to be helpful tools, it is
important that they provide the information the public needs to assess the threat
posed to them by different sex offenders.” In Georgia, SORRB’s research-based
assessments, which are based on an individual’s background and criminal history,
are critical to the public’s understanding of risk posed by specific offenders.
However, these classifications are poorly represented on GBI’s website. A single field
on the website designates an offender as “ABSCONDER,” “PREDATOR”, or “NO.”
Because GBI has set the field to default to “NO,” this listing implies an offender is not
a predator when in fact his risk to reoffend often has not yet been assessed,
potentially providing the public a false sense of security. In contrast, GBI does not
display the lower risk Level I or Level II classifications, which apply to over 95% of
offenders assessed by SORRB. (By law, these classifications are required to be
included on sheriffs’ websites.) It should also be noted that because the display is
limited to one of three options, the website cannot accurately designate a predator
who has absconded; studies have shown a non-compliant predator poses the greatest
likelihood to reoffend.

8

As shown in Appendix D, GBI’s main sex offender page does list these items at the very bottom of the
page, amid other links: The Web address for Prevent Child Abuse Georgia is
http://www.preventchildabusega.org/html/demo/ and the Center for Sex Offender Management
http://www.csom.org/.
9
The Task Force’s findings were based in part on information from the U.S. Department of Justice
Center for Sex Offender Management.

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

21

Finally, the SOR website is poorly organized and the web pages do not maintain a
consistent page layout and style throughout the main page and search pages. As part
of our review, the audit team compared Georgia’s sex offender website to those
maintained by each of the 49 other U.S. states and over 60 Georgia sheriff’s offices. In
many cases, we found these agencies’ websites to be simpler to navigate and better
organized, making it easier to find desired information. GBI’s SOR website contains
information critical to law enforcement and the public at the bottom of several pages
of scrollable text (Appendix D). By contrast, accepted guidelines suggest web pages
be limited to one page, eliminating the need to scroll up or down. The most
important aspect of the website is the link to the Sex Offender Search Page, where
law enforcement and the public can search for offenders by name or location. This
link, along with links to the Predator and Absconder search pages, is located on the
side of the homepage in a small grey text box and again at the bottom of the
excessively long page. SOR-related data files, which include downloadable registry
data, a map of Georgia sex offenders by county, and summary statistics, are also
located at the bottom of the page. Also of concern is that links to offender search
pages on GBI’s website takes users to a new window with an entirely different
appearance. The GBI logo and links to other GBI pages are missing, as is important
disclaimer information about the use of the search engine. This is a critical omission,
because a number of sheriff sites link directly to the search page, as does the National
Sex Offender Public Website www.nsopw.gov .
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. GBI should add additional contextual content on both the home page and search
pages so that users of the information are fully informed of the limitations of sex
offender registries and the data contained therein.
2. GBI should make a clear distinction between predators and absconders on its
website, and ensure that explanatory information is included about each.
3. GBI should implement scheduled content review to ensure that functionality is
maintained over time.
4. GBI should work with the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) to improve the
organization of the public sex offender website. Many of the issues identified
above can be addressed at minimal cost by working with GTA. GTA staff is
available to assist state agencies in organizing website content so that users can
easily locate valuable information.
GBI’s Response: The GBI acknowledges that the format and design of the public registry could be
improved. Additionally, while basic useful information on the offender is provided, GBI will conduct
and implement scheduled content reviews to improve functionality. The GBI has identified the need
for a webmaster as a potential critical hire; however it is not known if funding will be available. The
Georgia Technology Authority hosts and supports the public Sex Offender Registry website. Once
final, the GBI will provide the report to GTA for their review and implementation of the
recommended changes.”
“The GBI has personnel assigned to a statewide working group created to improve agency websites.
The GBI will utilize these Recommendations when making changes to its website. The GBI will also
request assistance from GTA in implementing the identified ‘minimal cost’ issues.”

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

22

Regarding the inclusion of Level I and Level II classification, GBI noted that only a small portion of
offenders have been assessed by the SORRB and that providing this information may actually
provide a false sense of security. GBI officials stated that even with additional information, the
public can never accurately assess the risk posed by sex offenders. GBI will seek guidance on this issue
as the current statute does require sheriffs to include risk assessment classification on their local
sites.

GBI has not established adequate management controls over SOR program
operations.
GBI’s SOR program operations do not reflect a systematic management approach,
resulting in staff that are generally reacting to problems rather than employing
proactive approaches to prevent or identify them. This environment, which has
contributed to several SOR deficiencies, could be addressed by improving the
program’s policies and procedures and improving management oversight of program
operations.
Our review of GBI’s SOR operations included reviewing a sample of transactions,
such as adding and deleting offenders from the registry and processing transfers to
other states, to determine if SOR personnel had met appropriate requirements. We
also compared the program’s written policies and procedures to requirements of
state law and regulations, and the agency’s data quality review process and the
oversight of the SOR personnel by GBI management. Additional reviews of the GBI
database itself and the public website are included in other findings.
Deficiencies noted during our review of GBI’s SOR operations include:

10



GBI did not consistently respond in a timely manner when sheriff’s offices
requested information on an offender’s registration eligibility, resulting in
registration delays, and, in one instance, completely losing track of a possible
sex offender who moved to Georgia. When offenders arrive at a sheriff’s
office but are not already on the state registry, the sheriff’s offices fax copies
of registration information to GBI. GBI is expected to follow up with either
GDC or other state law enforcement entities to determine the offender’s
registration eligibility. GBI places the faxed requests into a pile and works
on them intermittently.



Based on a review of GBI records related to a sample10 of faxed registrations
received in the fall of 2009, it took a median of six days for GBI to initiate
follow-up with the appropriate agency. The timeframe was much longer in
some cases. In one instance, nearly four months after the initial request, GBI
could not locate the request or any follow-up GBI staff may have done. In
another, an offender had not been entered into the registry several months
after GBI was first notified the offender was required to register.



GBI does not consistently mail out-of-state notification letters to other
states. A review of the files of 20 offenders reportedly moving to an out-of-

We could identify the date of GBI’s first action in only 16 of the 22 cases in the original sample.

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

23

state address found that the state SOR representatives for five were not sent
a notification letter as required by GBI policy. These letters are mailed to
other state’s law enforcement agencies to serve as notice that a sex offender
registered in Georgia is relocating to their state. It should be noted that an
electronic notification is sent through CJIS to the other state’s primary law
enforcement entity when an offender’s address is changed to another state.


GBI does not provide all relevant information in the notification letters that
are sent to other states. In its notification letters, GBI does not provide an
offender’s risk classification level, even for those offenders classified as
predators. This is not required by state law or GBI policy, but personnel in
another state we contacted indicated that a predator designation in Georgia
would automatically lead to a similar designation and increased monitoring
of that offender in their state.



GBI does not review SOR entries for obvious errors included in new
registrations. As noted in an earlier finding, the database contains errors that
would be mitigated by an updated technology solution. However, in the
meantime, even a cursory review process would likely identify some errors.
For example, we found thousands of instances in which the street number
field contained the first several letters of the street name. In these cases, a
person searching the registry by street name would not find all offenders
living on that street. GBI administrators state that the Program “no longer
conducts a cursory review due to loss of staff.”

During our review of controls that should prevent and/or detect these deficiencies,
we determined that a more systematic approach to managing the SOR program was
necessary. Effective management requires the identification of the objectives of the
SOR and a determination of the steps to meet those objectives. Objectives would
likely include providing law enforcement and the public with the type and quality of
information useful for decision-making. Compliance with state and/or federal laws is
not the only factor to be considered. Once identified, program responsibilities and
associated activities should be documented in policies and procedures and program
activities monitored by GBI management.
Policies and Procedures
The policies and procedures for the SOR program are incomplete. State sex offender
law requires GBI to establish operating policies and procedures concerning record
ownership, quality, verification, modification, and cancellation. When adequately
developed, policies and procedures encourage consistency in day-to-day operations,
allow management to direct operations without having to be involved in every step,
and provide employees with an understanding of individual and team
responsibilities. Sound operating procedures also minimize the opportunity for fraud
and allow a more seamless transition of responsibilities when there is a change in
program personnel. Policies and procedures should clearly describe each process
from start to finish, including management review of staff activities and any required
follow-ups.
The U.S. DOJ Center for Sex Offender Management notes that agencies need procedures
that “delineate a clear system for the collection and maintenance of thorough,
accurate, and current information on registered sex offenders.” In order to be an

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

24

effective tool for managing the program, the SOR policies and procedures must
include all responsibilities delineated in state law and agency rules and regulations.
Our review found responsibilities not covered in written policies, incomplete
policies, and policies that do not consider potential inappropriate actions by staff.
Examples include the following:


Policies do not address how to remove an offender from the registry upon
death, court order, or improper entry.



Policies do not include methods for modifying or updating an offender
record.



Policies do not detail procedures for updating the SOR website each day.



Policies do not include mailing quarterly list of offenders to each sheriff.11



Policies often do not include an expected timeframe for employee action,
such as updating offender photos and researching registration eligibility for
offenders who report to a sheriff but are not already registered.



Policies do not require management review of all SOR record deletions.
While there is no evidence that this has occurred, unauthorized removal of
an offender is an inherent risk.

Performance Monitoring
Although its website states that GBI “makes every effort to ensure that the
information contained in the Georgia Sex Offender Registry is accurate”, the agency
does not produce performance reports that would allow an assessment of SOR data
quality, nor does it have another formal review process to identify data problems.
Instead, GBI officials rely on sheriffs’ offices, GDC, and the public to identify
problems for correction.
Prior to September 2008, monthly reports detailed registry activity, such as the
number of new offenders, photos received and entered, annual verification letters
mailed and returned, number and reason for deleted records, and other items. If used
properly, this information could assist program officials and GBI management to
monitor registry accuracy and completeness. (It should be noted that only a single
month’s activity was included in each report and that the inclusion of multiple
months would have been more informative as to ongoing program performance.) In
September 2008, GBI stopped compiling much of the information; management
stated that the decline in performance reporting was due to staff reductions
experienced at that time.
Management Oversight
We found that GBI management should provide better oversight of SOR activities.
Even when policies and procedures are in place, agency management must provide a
level of supervision necessary to ensure that the program’s objectives are being met.
This requires reviewing performance reports and taking steps to ensure that policies
and procedures are being adhered to.

11

Mailing quarterly lists of offenders to sheriffs is listed in GBI rules and regulations but not in policy.
GBI officials indicated that they no longer provide the listings.

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

25

As noted above, monthly performance reports are vital to determining if the SOR
program is providing a complete and accurate registry. Without adequate reports,
management is unable to adequately monitor the quality and timeliness of work
done by SOR program staff. One example of an activity that should be included in
reports and reviewed by management is the practice related to determining the
eligibility of a non-registered offender reporting to a sheriff’s office. SOR program
officials’ current practice does not include maintaining a log of the initial request by
the sheriff or the subsequent follow-up. Therefore, management is unable to review
the appropriateness or the timeliness of employee activities associated with requests.
We also found that management is not ensuring employees are consistently
following those policies and procedures that have been established. The audit team
identified examples of policies and procedures in place but employees inconsistently
following them, including documented delays in registering some offenders,
omissions in updating offender’s photographs, and failures to notify other states’ law
enforcement agencies of sex offenders moving to their state.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. GBI should develop complete policies and procedures for the Sex Offender
Registry program, ensuring that all responsibilities outlined in state law, GBI
rules and regulations, and GCIC operation bulletins are addressed. Efforts
should be made to consider input from relevant agencies regarding ongoing
problems. When performance aspects, such as timeliness, are not explicitly
stated in the authorizing statute/rule, GBI should develop reasonable standards
to ensure that expectations of program employees are clear.
2.

GBI management and staff should resume reporting and reviewing performance
data concerning registry-related activities and take appropriate action when
problems are identified. These reports should also be aggregated over time to
identify trends.

3. GBI management should develop processes to monitor the work done by SOR
program staff. This includes ensuring adherence with policies and procedures
already in place.
GBI’s Response: GBI officials indicated that they have effectively managed the SOR program,
given the limited resources that are assigned to it. They noted that in August 2008 the program’s
staffing decreased from 6.5 to 3 positions, impacting the effectiveness of its operations. However, “the
GBI agrees with the gist of the recommendations…as to the need for improved procedures.”
With the benefit of information provided by the audit team, “the GBI is currently reviewing and will
revise its procedure for researching and handling of pending cases.” Regarding the two instances of
untimely response, GBI concluded that they happened during a management and staff transition in
September 2009. In this context, GBI also points out the complexity of determining registration
requirements for out-of-state offenders and notes that 388 out-of-state offenders were added to the
registry in fiscal year 2010. The GBI also advised that one of the two cases was an in-state offender
and there were 1393 in-state offenders added in fiscal year 2010.

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

26

GBI stated that the out-of-state notification letters will be revised to include the predator status.
Finally, GBI’s response stated that it “should be noted that the GBI management team has
recognized the gaps identified in the review and has directed that the procedural deficiencies be
remedied in the first half of fiscal year 2011.”
Auditor’s Response: We agree that program operations are impacted by the
number of staff assigned, and GBI has a small staff assigned to the SOR
program. However, with the exception of the monthly performance reports,
we did not find that the issues in the finding were the result of a loss in staff.
For example, the development of complete policies and procedures could
have occurred in the years preceding the budget reduction. Additionally,
current staff was able to make revisions to the existing policies and
procedures during the audit.
Further, we cannot directly attribute the untimely responses we identified
from a two-week sample in September 2009 to be the result of a
management transition that occurred around the same time. We requested
the list of incoming pending files be created because no such log existed as
part of routine program management during the entire period covered by the
audit. Well before September 2009, we observed a stack of “pending files”;
extended observations and discussions with management and staff
confirmed that no other process (such as a log) existed to ensure that all
reported problems were followed up on in a timely manner. Our request to
create a sample log and our efforts to track outcomes on the listed offenders
was intended to demonstrate the effectiveness of the routine use of such
management tools.

GDC largely meets its responsibilities regarding the maintenance of a complete
and accurate sex offender registry, but the agency could make improvements in
its monitoring and documentation.
Improved monitoring of staff responsible for the identification and registration of sex
offenders would likely improve the current inconsistent compliance noted in some
prisons and probation offices. In addition, although GDC has developed reasonable
processes for identifying and registering sex offenders, a few related practices are not
adequately documented.
GDC is responsible for identifying and registering all sex offenders convicted in
Georgia, whether they are sentenced to prison or directly to probation. The
Department has created a Sex Offender Administration Unit to oversee or advise the
different GDC parties that are involved in the process, depending on the offender’s
sentence.


Sentenced to prison – Since 2007, four Sex Offender Classification
Examiners review the record of every inmate upon entry to the prison system
and again when scheduled for release. The examiners “flag” registerable sex
offenders in the GDC information system as a reminder that registration will
be required upon release. In order to streamline the registration process, in
August 2008 GDC initiated a policy to send identified sex offenders to one of

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

27

eight “release” prisons approximately one year before release. GDC staff
reports that number has since been reduced to five prisons. Upon release,
specially-trained prison staff completes the offender’s registration process,
which includes the offender’s entry onto the state’s SOR.


Sentenced directly to probation – Specialized probation officers in each of
the state’s 49 judicial circuits must identify and register sex offenders. GDC
SOR staff report that recently, each circuit has also been assigned a
sentencing specialist who reviews sentencing practices and ensures that sex
offender sentences are handled appropriately.

GDC’s assignment of responsibilities for the identification and registration of sex
offenders are reasonable. For the incarcerated population, GDC’s practice of limiting
the number of examiners and release prisons reduces the risk of mistakes in
identifying and registering offenders. However, these controls are harder to enact for
the probation population. Given the short period allowed between sentencing and
reporting to the sheriff’s office, it is necessary that GDC probation officers in all
circuits be responsible for identifying and registering offenders.
While GDC’s policies and procedures regarding identification and registration of sex
offenders are reasonable and well-documented, the agency does not have adequate
monitoring processes to ensure compliance by program employees. For example,
GDC does not review lists of released prisoners to ensure that all of those flagged for
registration were actually registered upon release. Neither does it analyze offenders
sentenced directly to probation to verify that all charges eligible for registration were
properly identified. Our review indicates that such monitoring would be valuable in
improving the accuracy and completeness of the sex offender registry, in facilitating
the efforts of sheriffs and GBI, and in ensuring consistent practices among GDC staff.
In order to assess GDC’s sex offender identification and registration practices, we
reviewed lists of offenders convicted of certain crimes that were released from prison
or sentenced directly to probation during June through August 2009. As previously
noted, Georgia law requires that offenders should not be “released from prison or
placed on parole, supervised release, or probation” until they are added to GBI’s
registry, but our analysis revealed that registration is often delayed beyond release.
Approximately 71% of offenders were registered within the GDC system12 by their
release date, but 29% were registered after release. Ninety-six percent of offenders
were registered within seven days of release. The average lag between GDC release
date and entry on GBI’s registry varied considerably among prisons, indicating that
practices are not consistent from location to location. For example, a private prison
in southeast Georgia registered its offenders on average more than a day before
release. In contrast, a prison in the southwestern part of the state, which released a
similar number of offenders in the same period, registered them on average seven
days after their release date. Our analysis of 43 offenders placed directly on probation
revealed a greater delay in registrations. Although we acknowledged in an earlier
finding that state law requiring offenders be registered prior to placement on
probation is not feasible in these cases, a median time period of seven days from
sentencing to registration is excessive.
The implications of delayed registration go beyond a lack of compliance with the
12

Offenders are on the GBI registry the following day, following an overnight data transmission.

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

28

law. Offenders are required to report to the sheriff in the county in which they reside
within 72 hours of release or sentence to probation. Those who comply will
encounter problems completing their reporting requirements if GDC has not yet
completed registration. These registration delays require additional effort on the part
of staff at sheriff’s offices, GBI, and GDC itself to resolve. Harder to measure, but of
greater concern, is the impact that registration delays have on identifying and
locating those offenders who choose not to comply with the law and intentionally
fail to report to their local sheriff. Any registration delay represents a delay in
recognizing that an offender has absconded.
In addition to needing improved monitoring of compliance with identification and
registration practices, we found that the policies and procedures regarding the
activities of the Sex Offender Administration Unit staff are not adequately
documented. For example, documentation of classification examiner activities is
limited to a three-page sheet containing the factors that should be considered when
identifying offenders for registration. There are no procedures that detail the
methods for distributing their workload or methods for locating the information
necessary for making registration decisions. This documentation would help ensure
consistent practices, especially when turnover occurs within the examiner positions.
It should be noted that the Sex Offender Administration Unit has recognized the
gaps identified in our review and had included tasks addressing monitoring and
procedural deficiencies in its 2009-2010 strategic plans.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. GDC should improve its monitoring processes related to the identification and
registration of sex offenders. The monitoring should be sufficient to ensure that
all prisons and probation offices are identifying sex offenders and registering
them within the timeframes required by state law and agency policy.
2. GDC should formalize the responsibilities and activities of the Sex Offender
Administration Unit through the adoption of policies and procedures. Special
attention should be given to documenting the role of the Sex Offender
Classification Examiners.
GDC Response: In its response, GDC stated that it is taking several actions to address items
noted in the audit. Specifically:
1.

Audit procedures for sex offender registration are currently under review by Probation
Operations and Facility Operations in conjunction with the Office of Investigations and
Compliance. Expected completion date is October 1, 2010.
Court Team and intake procedures for Probation Operations are currently under review
by the Probation Operations Management Team. Expected completion date is October 1,
2010.
Evaluation and monitoring of Facility Operations release procedures for sex offenders will
be increased through site visits by the Sex Offender Administration Unit. Implementation
date is July 1, 2010.

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

29

Training programs are currently being revised with additional focus on the identification
and registration of sex offenders within the timeframes required by law. Completion date is
scheduled for August 1, 2010.
2.

A review and evaluation of the responsibilities, job descriptions, and policies relating to the
Sex Offender Administration Unit is currently underway and will be completed by October
1, 2010.

Recent changes in SOR legislation will require collaboration between GDC, GBI,
and the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association (GSA) to ensure the accuracy of
registration information on incarcerated sexual offenders.
HB 571, which became law on May 21, 2010, removes a requirement for sex offenders
to abide by SOR conditions during periods of incarceration. This change eliminates
an illogical practice and undue burden placed on sheriffs of counties with a state
prison. However, the change will require GBI, GDC, and sheriffs (through the GSA)
to develop new procedures to ensure proper registration and an accurate SOR upon
an offender’s release.
Prior to the change in the law, incarcerated offenders were required to meet all
registration requirements, including annual address verifications with the local
sheriff. Since offenders in state custody could not report to the sheriff’s office, sheriffs
of counties with a state prison worked with GDC to determine which registered
offenders were in the state prison and ensure that registration requirements were
met. This resulted in a disproportionate workload on several sheriffs’ offices. For
example, as shown in Appendix C, on a single day in July 2010, 92 of Johnson
County’s 126 registered sex offenders were actually residents of the state prison13 in
Wrightsville. We also found that the state and local sex offender registries often
contained disparate information about the location of offenders in GDC custody.
While sheriffs were responsible for updating the location of the offenders within
their counties, they did not have easy access to the information maintained by GDC.
Our comparison of a sample of offender listings on sheriffs’ websites and the GBI
registry found that 72% of discrepancies involved incarcerated offenders.
The legislative change provides an opportunity for the parties involved in sex
offender registration – GDC, GBI, and sheriffs – to develop a new method for
tracking registered offenders returned to prison. We can find no reason to use the
SOR to track the location of an incarcerated registered offender. State law does not
require new offenders to be added to the registry until they are released from prison,
presumably because the offender is not deemed a risk to the public while
incarcerated. However, once included on the registry, the offender’s location
(county) has been maintained, even if the offender moved in and out of the state
prison system. As noted above, this inconsistency in maintaining registration
information on incarcerated offenders has resulted in significant effort and
considerable misinformation.

13

It is possible that a small number of these offenders listed as “INCARCERATED” in Johnson County
were in local jails rather than the state prison.

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

30

RECOMMENDATIONS
1. GDC and sheriffs (via GSA) should work with GBI to create a mechanism to
accurately reflect an offender’s incarceration in state custody, without requiring
sheriffs to list them as offenders residing in their counties. The SOR could show
an additional county location of “GDC custody” that would be updated to the
appropriate county upon re-release.
2. GBI should give “update” access to staff within the GDC Sexual Offender
Administration Unit so that they can maintain accurate information on
incarcerated offenders as needed.
GDC Response: GDC, GSA and the GBI are actively working to create this mechanism.

The state’s sex offender classification process is hindered by ineffective
relationships between agencies, inefficient management practices within the
SORRB, and the state SOR law.
A vast majority of Georgia’s registered sex offenders have not been classified by the
Sexual Offender Registration Review Board. Our review found that the classification
process would benefit if SORRB and other state agencies better shared information
on sex offenders and if SORRB improved its own management practices. As noted on
page 19, the SORRB law should also be amended to eliminate a loophole that allows
many offenders to go unclassified.
How Risk is Assessed
Research-based assessments (classifications) are
the most reliable method to determine the risk
posed by an individual sexual offender, but they
require significant resources. Their use requires
access to extensive background information on the
offender, and qualified personnel to administer.
These tools assign “points” to aspects of an
offender’s history and are used to compute a score
indicating a high, moderate, or low risk to reoffend.
For example, sexual attacks against strangers and
a history of multiple offenses are high-risk
indicators of recidivism.

Only 6% of approximately 20,000 convicted sexual
offenders in Georgia have been assigned a risk
classification. While approximately 5,000 offenders
were added to the Registry between 2006 and 2009,
the Board classified fewer than 1,600 in that period.
During 2008 and 2009, SORRB classified an average
of 48 and 55 offenders per month, respectively.

The SORRB has a staff of just eight, of which four are
part time. Its size obviously limits the number of
assessments that can be completed. However, we
found several other issues that limit its effectiveness
in fulfilling its responsibilities. The agency does not
receive a list of offenders to be classified from a single
reliable source, which may result in offenders never appearing on SORRB’s list for
review. Also, the agency is one of three state agencies that review documents
relevant to the offender’s classification, resulting in a duplication of effort. Finally,
SORRB does not utilize its own information effectively or assess its performance or
that of its employees in an adequate manner.


The SORRB list of pending classifications is based on a variety of
potentially unreliable and inconsistent sources. While the SOR
maintained by GBI is the state list of registered sex offenders, SORRB does

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

31

not use the database to identify offenders to be classified14. Instead, it
depends on classification requests emailed, faxed, or mailed by hundreds of
court clerks and sheriffs, as well as GDC and the State Board of Pardons and
Parole. (As discussed on page 18, this practice is partly due to SOR law.)
While state law requires GDC to identify and register offenders convicted in
Georgia, it also requires court clerks to identify these offenders and submit
requests for classification. Sheriffs are required to notify SORRB when a sex
offender moves to a Georgia county from another state. GDC, at random
intervals, supplies the Board with a list of offenders due to be released or
known to be released from prison within a specific time period. In addition,
although this is not addressed in the law, staff of the Board of Pardons and
Parole reports they send SORRB a list of sex offenders with tentative parole
dates on a quarterly basis.
The varied sources and methods of notifying SORRB of needed
classifications increases the likelihood that the SORRB list of pending
classifications is not complete. In addition, due to data management
problems listed below, information received from these sources is manually
re-entered into SORRB’s database, further increasing the likelihood of
errors.


SORRB staff spends considerable time acquiring documentation
required for completing classification although these documents are also
gathered or generated by two other state agencies for similar purposes.
Completion of the risk assessment tools requires access to court sentencing
documents, court-ordered evaluations, victim-witness statements, and
investigative reports. SORRB staff states that the greatest barrier to
increasing the volume of risk assessments they perform per month is the
time it takes to obtain these documents from courts, local investigators, and
district attorneys across the state. To address this issue, SORRB has hired
one full-time and one part-time investigator to perform some of the labor
required, allowing clinical evaluators to devote their efforts to the
assessment process. However, as described below, two other agencies
require access to the same documents, resulting in significant duplication of
efforts among agencies, and unnecessary demands on court officials, law
enforcement agencies, and district attorneys responding to repeated requests
for the same documents:
o

14

GDC Sex Offender Classification Examiners (SOCE) in the Sex
Offender Administration Unit obtain court documents, victim
statements, and other reports in order to determine an offender’s
eligibility for registration. As noted on page 26, SOCEs screen all
inmates entering the prison system and also those with pending release
dates, to ensure that all offenders requiring registration have been
properly flagged in the SCRIBE system. Factors that inform the
registration process (such as the victim’s age and gender) are also
relevant to risk classification.

Due to GBI’s technology and processes, GDC does not formally register offenders until they are
released from prison. SORRB law requires risk assessment six months prior to expected release date.

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry
o

32

State Board of Pardons and Paroles (SBPP) investigators obtain court
and investigative documents whenever convictions result in
incarceration. These documents allow for a preliminary assessment of an
inmate’s future eligibility for parole and to set (if applicable) a tentative
parole date. According to agency officials, SBPP employs approximately
60 investigators in regional offices who obtain these documents in the
months after sentencing. These documents are also used in SBPPdesigned risk assessments prior to authorizing parole for a sex offender.

While GDC has given SORRB employees access to its SCRIBE system,
SORRB staff do not have access to all relevant documents obtained by the
SOCE. SBPP officials, who acknowledge their investigative summaries
would prove useful to SORRB, have concluded that O.C.G.A. 42-9-53 does
not allow sharing this information with SORRB staff. However, the code
section does allow the sharing of records and documents that were public
records at the time they were received by SBPP.


Ineffective use of software applications results in over-reliance on
inefficient manual processes. In March 2010, SORRB switched its offender
database from Microsoft Access to Microsoft Excel. The audit team reviewed
the files maintained on both systems and identified a number of missed
opportunities to expedite operations and minimize risk of errors. For
example, the database does not document which cases are currently under
investigation so it can’t be used for making assignments or tracking progress
toward classification. In addition, letters notifying the offender of the
outcome of the Board’s risk assessment are filled out individually for each
offender, although the software provides the ability to generate the letters
automatically from elements in the database. To illustrate the lack of
controls on data entry, offenders have been assigned the risk designation
“Level 1” with five different spellings in the database. It should be noted that
SORRB staff are in the process of outlining specifications for a new,
customized database that could address some of these issues; we did not see
evidence that a custom-designed system, costing hundreds of thousands of
dollars, is necessary to meet the Board’s needs.



A lack of individual and agency performance measures impairs the
Board’s ability to identify opportunities for improvement and to
document needs for additional resources. SORRB statute prescribes
specific time frames in which classifications must occur. However, SORRB
does not measure its performance against these standards. Similarly, the
SORRB has not established adequate performance measures for investigators
and evaluator staff. At the request of the Board, management has begun to
develop job descriptions for each staff position, but to date no attempt has
been made to measure employee productivity or set guidelines for acceptable
output. Classification itself is currently performed by three part-time
personnel. Without measuring the time it takes for various processes and
then evaluating individual performance, it is difficult to determine how
many staff hours are required to classify new releases, or to address its
backlog of cases.

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry


33

Management has not ensured adequate security over hard-copy and
electronic files. Hard-copy documents used to support risk assessments are
maintained in unsecured folders for each offender. These folders, which may
contain confidential material (regarding the offender and the victim), are
stacked chest-high or stored in boxes on every available surface in a cubicle
adjacent to SORRB workspaces within the Department of Behavioral Health
and Developmental Disabilities15 (DBHDD). Access to this area is not limited
to SORRB staff. In addition, SORRB staff only occasionally backup the
database for security purposes (approximately once a month). The lack of
reasonable security precautions introduces the risk of infringement of
private information, loss of important information, and the possibility of
intentional data destruction or modification.

It should be noted that the Board and its staff have recently increased attempts to
improve efficiency and effectiveness. Both groups attended a retreat in February 2010
intended to develop strategies for reducing backlog by improving productivity.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. SORRB should use the state SOR to ensure that all relevant offenders are
included on its list. In addition, it should largely rely on two sources to obtain its
master list of offenders. Because GDC identifies and initially registers all
offenders convicted in a Georgia court, SORRB should periodically obtain a list
of all newly identified offenders from GDC (those sentenced to prison and
directly to probation). Since GBI is aware of all offenders moving to Georgia,
SORRB should periodically obtain a list of those offenders from GBI.
2. In order to reduce a duplication of effort and inefficient use of resources, SORB
should work with GDC and the SBPP to make all relevant information available
to appropriate parties. It should work with GDC to ensure that it has access to
all available documents that can inform the classification process. Furthermore,
as addressed in the recommendation on page 19, it should work with the SBPP
and the General Assembly to create a legal exception allowing SORRB access to
files relevant to its risk assessment process.
3. SORBB should ensure that its data management processes improve efficiency
and effectiveness of its operations. Furthermore, it should end efforts to obtain a
new database to manage a relatively straightforward process. Instead, SORRB
should take steps to properly use off-the-shelf applications such as MS Access to
manage its operations. It should be noted that the benefits of upgrading the state
SOR far outweigh the benefits that might occur with a new database for the
SORRB.
4. SORRB should take responsibility for ensuring the security and completeness of
its data – both hard copy and electronic.
SORRB Response: “Long before it was aware that Audit 09-18 was in progress, perhaps before
the audit began, SORRB began an examination of its business processes in an effort to create a
specific blueprint for improvement of its operations. The SORRB (board and staff) participated in
15

SORRB is currently administratively attached to DBHDD.

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

34

strategic planning sessions and identified the areas that need the most enhancements. Even before the
draft results of this audit, SORRB was in the process of implementing strategies that parallel the
recommendations of the audit team. Affirmation of SORRB’s targeted changes through the audit’s
recommendations has provided validation that SORRB is heading in the right direction”.
1.

SORRB will work with GBI to obtain information about out of state offenders. SORRB
access to information about the background of out of state offenders who move to Georgia
is extremely limited. Because SORRB is not a law enforcement agency (nor should it be),
access to criminal history information through the National Crime Information Center
(NCIC) and Interstate Identification Index (III) is denied. In concert with the GBI
(Georgia Crime Information Center) and other state and federal government associates
SORRB has explored the possibility of legislative changes on a national level to allow
access to sex offender criminal history records for the purpose of risk assessment. To date
those efforts have been unsuccessful.

2.

For years SORRB has worked tirelessly with GDC and the State Board of Pardons and
Parole (SBPP) to identify a legal, viable avenue for exchange of information. The harsh
reality that SBPP records are not available for SORRB access moved the Board to employ
investigators to retrieve information from sources that are available for its review. To
continue to lament about the lack of accessibility for the Board’s convenience was folly and
stymied the evaluators’ progress so the Board opted to utilize investigators to gather the
information and proceed with assessments. While SBPP records contain information that
is accessible through other sources (court documents, etc.), these files also contain SBPP
generated documents that would be extremely helpful to the SORRB evaluators in the
assessment process. These documents, which are not available from any other source, would
be the most beneficial to SORRB.
SORRB will continue to request GDC Sex Offenders Classification Examiners (SOCE)
information.
While SORRB will continue to foster its interagency cooperation objectives, it will also
continue its independence from perceived law enforcement attachment to maintain its
neutral, non-punitive assessments of offenders’ propensity to reoffend.

3.

SORRB has relinquished funds encumbered for the development of an independent custom
database. SORRB has opted instead to use regular operating funds for improvement and
modifications of its current MS Access database.

4.

SORRB staff is working diligently to identify office space independent of the Department of
Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. The current location is woefully
insufficient in terms of location, magnitude, privacy and overall adequacy. This anticipated
move will address the physical security of files (hard copy and electronic) as well as the
confidentiality of SORRB operations.

GDC Response: In May of 2010 GDC began to supply the SORRB, each month, with a list
of offenders releasing in 12 months. For example, in May 2010 GDC provided SORRB the list of
offenders releasing in May 2011.

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

35

Sheriffs’ compliance with their responsibilities for maintaining an accurate state
registry has been mixed.
State law gives sheriffs significant responsibilities regarding the management of sex
offenders, including maintenance of both state and local sex offender registries. Our
review found sheriffs’ compliance with the provisions related to an accurate registry,
as well as the related consequences, to be varied.
During our review, we reviewed sheriffs’ sex offender websites and compared
information on those sites to the state SOR. We also interviewed personnel from the
Georgia Sheriffs’ Association (GSA), several sheriffs’ offices, and we surveyed all
sheriffs. It was apparent from these interactions that the sheriffs’ offices take their
responsibility for managing sex offenders seriously. GSA has taken a leading role in
educating sheriff staff about the changing requirements of state law and best
practices in managing their sex offender population, and sheriffs’ officials we spoke
with were well-versed in the responsibilities and challenges that they face.
Despite these efforts and intentions, we did identify deficiencies in sheriffs’ offices
compliance with state law. Specifically, not all Georgia sheriffs maintain a local SOR
website as required. Several counties had offenders whose last address verification
date listed in the state SOR was more than a year old, and offenders’ residence
addresses listed on local and state sites were not always the same. We did not test
sheriffs’ compliance with suggested policies and procedures for communicating with
one another when an offender is moving across county lines, but several sheriffs’
offices reported that communication does not always occur.
The consequences of the deficiencies noted above may not be as significant as they
might appear. For example:


Our 80-county search for SOR listings on sheriffs’ websites found that only
51 had a listing of sex offenders, as required by law. Another nine had only a
link to the state SOR website. However, the negative effect of a sheriff not
having a local sex offender listing is questionable. As we noted the finding on
page 16, the maintenance of 159 local websites, in addition to the state
website, is an inefficient use of taxpayer funds. Separate websites also lead
to discrepancies when only one site has been updated. Finally, a county
resident searching for sex offender information could easily find the GBI
SOR website through any web search engine.



Approximately 100 counties had at least one offender whose last address
verification date was more than one year old in the state SOR. If an offender
does not report at the designated one-year interval, he is considered an
absconder and a warrant should be issued. However, when we contacted the
14 counties with the highest number or percentage of outdated verifications,
a majority reported that the verifications had taken place but had not yet
been entered into the state SOR. As noted previously, the delays were
attributed by sheriff staff to overly-restricted access to the SOR database.



A comparison of offender addresses on state and sheriffs’ websites found
that sheriffs are not always updating addresses in both databases. We found
that 13 of 70 offenders had different addresses in the state and local

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

36

registries. In some cases, the differences were minor (e.g., different house
number, missing apartment number, same address but different zip code,
misspelled street name). In other cases, older address verification dates on
the local website indicated that the local site was not being updated; the
sheriff’s office had recently verified the address listed on the GBI site. In all
cases, both registries listed the offender as a resident of the same county;
therefore, both addresses were entered by the same sheriff’s office. While
this makes the responsibility for the error clear, it also means that the
sheriff’s office would be aware of both listed addresses.
These issues of non-compliance would have the greatest impact on citizens’ efforts
to learn about local sex offenders. An individual may find different information
depending on the registry accessed or the type of search executed. A greater concern
would be sheriffs who are unaware of their sex offender population, but we did not
find this to be the case for those sheriffs’ offices we spoke with. When the audit team
contacted a sheriff’s office about an out-of-date verification or inconsistent address,
personnel could often quickly provide an answer based on local files. Updating the
state SOR or maintaining a separate, local public listing was a lower priority than
other aspects of managing the population, such as making regular contact with some
offenders or verifying that offenders are not violating residency and employment
restrictions. Noncompliance is also affected by issues noted in earlier findings, such
as the SOR’s technological limitations and the mis-assignment of responsibilities in
state law.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Sheriffs’ offices should take necessary steps to ensure that they have properly
implemented policies and procedures for sex offender management, such as the
recommended policies developed by the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association. These
should include timely updating of the state SOR.

The Georgia Sheriffs’ Association has made a significant contribution to the
development of standard procedures for sheriffs’ sex offender registration, but
continued efforts are required to enhance consistency and ongoing compliance.
The Georgia Sheriffs’ Association should be commended for its efforts to inform
sheriff staff on their SOR responsibilities and to provide guidelines for ensuring
consistent practices. Our survey indicates that a vast majority of sheriff offices in the
state use or build on the GSA guidelines for managing sex offenders. Without the
efforts of GSA and its Sex Offender Registration Task Force (SORTF), the state
would have no assurance that sex offender registration was handled consistently
across the state. However, because of ongoing judicial decisions regarding SOR
legislation and frequent turnover in sheriffs’ offices, continued efforts are needed to
ensure that practices do not vary and requirements of the law are met.
According to representatives we spoke with, the effort to standardize procedures
began when a group of metropolitan Atlanta sheriff’s officers met to discuss
anticipated changes resulting from the introduction of HB 1059 in 2005 (which
became effective in 2006). Since then, GSA has sought clarification to ambiguities in

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

37

the law and worked with sheriffs’ staff to develop and disseminate suggested
standard procedures. GSA staff and the SORTF have also developed a program of
quarterly regional training sessions specifically on sex offender practices, and for the
past three years they have hosted an annual meeting that included representatives
from related agencies including GBI, GDC, and SORRB. SORTF members are
knowledgeable local sheriff’s office personnel who serve as a point of contact for sex
offender registry problems in each region. Each region is expected to hold three
meetings a year to discuss registry laws and their enforcement.
The training and materials provided by GSA can only encourage use of standard
procedures; the association has no enforcement authority. It exists to provide
training and education for sheriffs and their staffs, and to work with the General
Assembly on public safety and law enforcement issues. Even without enforcement
capability, GSA and the SORTF have made a significant impact regarding the sex
offender registry. In our survey, 94 of 98 counties reported they were aware of GSA’s
Operational Guidelines and Model Sex Offender Policy. Further, almost all respondents
indicated they had used the documents as a basis for their local policies on sex
offender management.
Despite its impressive coverage to date, it is important that GSA continue these
efforts. The association is the sole source of SOR-related information to 159 county
sheriffs’ offices. Legal challenges to the current law result in ongoing changes
regarding its enforcement16. In addition, staffing for SOR at the local level fluctuates
with attrition and with the election of new sheriffs. For these reasons, ongoing
training and information will be required. Increased use of technology and
adjustments to the SOR legislation, as discussed in other sections of this report, will
facilitate the Association’s efforts.
RECOMMENDATION
1. GSA should continue to provide training and education to sheriffs regarding
compliance with state and federal laws and adoption of best practices for sex
offender management. In its training, it should consider the audit team’s findings
as reported on page 35.
GSA Response: “We agree with the findings in regard to the Association and the sheriffs. Your
recommendations are noted, and will be covered (again) in the upcoming training in August. …the
teamwork between GDC, GBI and GSA, and the frontline staff, aided in any success of managing sex
offenders.” GSA noted that GBI staff “has been very helpful to us and the sheriffs’ offices, while
struggling with the lack of resources”.
“GSA will continue its efforts to work with the other agencies, including the [SORRB], and training
our sheriffs’ office in complying with state law.”

16

For example, there are injunctions in place about certain aspects of residency restrictions such as
school bus stops. As pending suits are settled, additional aspects of enforcement also change.

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

38

Appendix A: Objectives, Scope, and Methodology
Objectives
This performance audit examined the process by which sexual offenders are
registered in Georgia, and the maintenance of the registry database. In addition to
analysis of the information contained on the registry, we evaluated the
policies/procedures, management initiatives, and performance related to sex offender
registration in three state agencies: the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the
Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC), and the Sexual Offender Registration
Review Board (SORRB). We made similar inquiries of the Georgia Sheriffs’
Association and 159 county sheriff’s offices. Specifically, the audit sought to achieve
the following objectives:
1.

Assess the accuracy of the information in the Georgia Sexual Offender
Registry;

2. Assess the usefulness of the registry for law enforcement purposes; and
3. Assess whether the registry meets the public’s need for information on sex
offenders.
Scope
The audit focused on the SOR database maintained by GBI with data input by GDC
and sheriffs. It also included GBI’s associated SOR website. We initially did not plan
to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the SORRB in our review, but ultimately
included a limited evaluation of the Board’s efforts because identifying potential risk
to reoffend is particularly important to adequately informing the public of the threat
posed by individual offenders.
Because of potential changes to state law and pending litigation, we did not address
all aspects of Georgia’s SOR law and associated enforcement (e.g., residency
restrictions), except to provide some background context for the report. Also, we did
not evaluate the compliance of the Department of Education, the Department of
Early Care and Learning, or the Department of Human Services with their legal
requirements to obtain and disseminate sex offenders’ information to specified
recipients on an annual basis.
The audit focused on registry activity between July 2006 and December 2009,
because legislation effective in 2006 brought about many changes in the
responsibilities of various state and local entities.
Methodologies
We conducted this performance audit in accordance with generally accepted
government auditing standards (GAGAS). Those standards require that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain sufficient, appropriate evidence to provide a reasonable
basis for our findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives. We believe that
the evidence obtained provides a reasonable basis for our findings and conclusions
based on our audit objectives.
At GBI, we conducted interviews with SOR office and GCIC administrative and
computer staff; reviewed GBI standard operating procedures as relates to SOR;

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

39

performed file reviews of relevant documents, and analyzed data from GBI’s sex
offender registry. At GDC, we conducted interviews with staff in its Sex Offender
Administration and Information Services units; visited two state prisons and one
probation office to observe sex offender registration and classification procedures;
reviewed GDC standard operating procedures related to sex offender classification,
registration, and management; and reviewed relevant electronic records. At SORRB,
we conducted interviews with staff members and the Board chairperson, observed a
Board meeting, and examined electronic and paper files maintained by SORRB staff.
To obtain input from Georgia sheriffs, we interviewed training and administrative
staff of the Georgia Sheriffs Association; attended a regional SOR training session for
approximately 40 county sheriff representatives; submitted a 12-page survey to SOR
representatives in 159 sheriff’s offices (receiving 100 responses); and interviewed at
least 20 local SOR representatives in person or by telephone.
To assess the accuracy of the information in the Sexual Offender Registry we
performed the following tasks:


We obtained a full copy of the GBI registry database at two points in time
(April 2009 and September 2009) and performed extensive analyses to
characterize the information contained and assess its reliability and overall
quality.



We compared the extent of information in the GBI registry to the
information required to be obtained from all sexual offenders, to the
information displayed on GBI’s SOR website, and to the information
required for sheriffs to maintain on local websites.



We compared information in the GBI database to data pulled from queries of
GDC’s SCRIBE information system.



We compared information in the GBI database to information maintained in
several samples of local sheriff websites.



We evaluated the quality of policies and procedures and related monitoring
and controls at GBI, GDC and among sheriff’s offices to determine the extent
they ensured accuracy of data entered into the registry.



We explicitly tested some agency procedures to see if they were followed as
written. For example, we reviewed samples of GBI files to review
documentation of deletions from the registry and evidence of
communications with other states. We also sampled GDC records compared
with registry information to see if registration timelines were adhered to.

To determine whether the Sexual Offender Registry was useful for law
enforcement purposes we performed the following tasks:


We conducted a review of literature to determine the expected usefulness of
sex offender registries to law enforcement.



We reviewed Georgia Sheriffs’ Association’s (GSA) recommended policies
and procedures for compliance with state law. We also reviewed training
materials and other communications between GSA and sheriffs to ascertain
the services provided to sheriffs regarding sex offender registration and
management.

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry


40

We analyzed the results of our sheriffs’ survey to determine overall law
enforcement perceptions about sex offender registration in Georgia and to
identify strengths and weakness of the current registration system.

To determine whether the Sexual Offender Registry was useful for the public
we performed the following tasks:


We conducted a review of literature to determine the expected usefulness of
sex offender registries to the public.



We attempted to determine the public’s demand for registry information by
tracking the number of related calls to GBI, the number of “hits” to the
registry website, and the level of interaction between local sheriffs and the
public on this subject.



We compared information available on national, state, and local SOR
websites to determine the consistency of information provided and to
identify best practices.



We evaluated the extent to which risk assessment information from the
SORRB was available to the public.



We evaluated the quality of information contained within the SOR website
to determine if the public was provided adequate information in the proper
context to accurately assess its risk from registered offenders and others.

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

Appendix B: Registration Information and Location

41

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

42

Appendix B Continued

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

Appendix C: Registered Sex Offenders (RSO) by County,
Gender, and Number Incarcerated, as of July 2010

43

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

44

Appendix C Continued

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

45

Appendix C Continued

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

46

Appendix C Continued

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

Appendix D: GBI SOR Website as of July 2010

47

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

48

Appendix D Continued

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

49

Appendix D Continued

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

50

Appendix D Continued

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

51

Appendix D Continued

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

52

Appendix D Continued

09-18 Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry

53

Appendix D Continued

For additional information or for copies of this report call 404-657-5220.
Or see our website:
http://www.audits.ga.gov/rsaAudits/