This is nothing more than grandstanding. Maybe they should call it, "Operation Gestapo?"
08/08/2011
On August 3rd and 4th, approximately 67 Law Enforcement Officers, Agents, Deputies, Investigators and Administrators from various agencies including the United States Marshals Service (15), United States Secret Service (8), Georgia Department of Corrections (Probation Division - 10), the Georgia State Bureau of Pardons and Paroles 6), the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (10), the Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force (3) and the Troup County Sheriff's Office (15) conducted a sex offender registry compliance operation named "Operation Storm ‘Troup'ers" throughout LaGrange, West Point and Hogansville, in Troup County.
As a result, 115 registered Sex Offenders' addresses were successfully verified. 12 of those registered were found to have moved without giving proper notification; therefore, being non-compliant in regards to the conditions set forth within the legal limitations of their registration. Warrants are, presently, being issued for their arrests.
- And it takes this many Gestapo to check on 115 people? And how much did this grandstanding operation cost the tax payer? Also, you will notice, none of them were re-arrested for another sex crime, so the recidivism, for a new sex crime here, is 0%, and for technical violations it's 10%.
The Operation also culminated in an additional 11 arrests for offenses such as Probation Violations, Possession of Marijuana, a Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Assault and Failure to Appear (as scheduled in the appropriate Court).
Further, three weapons and small amounts of Marijuana & Cocaine were seized during the Operation. United States Marshals Service Senior Inspector and Sex Offender Investigations Coordinator for the Northern District of Georgia (Atlanta Division), Katrina Crouse, adds "The main goal of this operation was to conduct a show of force, law enforcement unity and cooperation in keeping a watch on the county's sex offenders; thus, ensuring they are complying will all requirements and apprehending those who have violated state, local and federal laws. In doing so, the operation should increase public safety throughout the greater Troup County area and the State of Georgia."
- When most are in compliance every time you check, how is that increasing public safety?
The Troup County Sheriff's Office, presently, monitors 211 registered Sex Offenders within the Georgia Registry. Some of those offenders live at addresses provided to the Sheriff's Office in accordance with Georgia Law. Others may be incarcerated, while some are also monitored by Probation or Parole authorities.
- And we have been keeping track of the entire state registry for awhile now, and you can see, from our spreadsheet, that the compliance rate is about 98%. Less than 2% are absconders and less than 2% are predators, yet they treat all offenders as if they are all dangerous predators.
