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Georgia court overturns restrictions on where sex offenders live

By Jacqueline Dowd

Georgia's law restricting where sex offenders can live has been struck down by the state supreme court.

The law banned registered sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools, churches and other areas where children congregate.

"It is apparent that there is no place in Georgia where a registered sex offender can live without being continually at risk of being ejected," reads the unanimous opinion.

The court's decision was based entirely on a takings challenge because the Georgia law didn't "grandfather" existing residences. As most other states haven't followed the Georgia approach, the ruling doesn't affect most residency restrictions across the nation. It also doesn't seem to apply to people who rent their homes.

Read the Atlanta Journal-Constitution report here.

Still, it's a big victory for the Southern Center for Human Rights and for those who question the effectiveness of residency restrictions in general.

Full post as published by the 13th juror on November 21, 2007 (boomark / email).