Sex Offenders
Pursuant to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, 42-1-12, Sexually Violent Offender Registry, the Sheriff's Office shall release relevant information as needed to protect the public regarding those persons who must register under this code section. The information pertinent to Columbia County is hereby disclosed and will be updated as necessary.
If you have any questions or concerns related to the registry of sexual offenders residing in Columbia County or if you have information relevant to anyone listed on this site, please contact Investigator Randall Bao or Staff Sergeant Daniel Gaston with the Criminal Investigations Division via email or at (706) 541-1044.
Sex offender registrations:
Sex offender registrations are normally conducted by appointment only.
Per O.C.G.A. 16-5-110, when first registering after release from prison and establishing residency in the county, notice shall be made with conviction and release from confinement, picture, name, address, date/time/place of arrest (if available), and disposition of the case, published at/ near the time of registration with the Sheriff’s Office. A $25 fee shall be assessed to cover the cost of publication.
Please contact Investigator Randall Bao with the Criminal Investigations Division via email or at (706) 541-1044 to schedule an appointment.
O.C.G.A. 16-5-110 Publication of notice; information required; assessment for cost; immunity
(a) When a person who has been convicted of a crime for which that person is required to register under Code Section 42-1-12 makes his or her first report to a sheriff after such person's release from confinement, placement on probation, or upon establishing residency in the county, the sheriff shall cause to be published a notice of conviction and release from confinement of such person. Such notice shall be one column wide by two inches long and shall contain the photograph taken by the arresting law enforcement agency at the time of arrest; the name and address of the convicted person; if available, the date, time, and place of arrest; and the disposition of the case. The notice shall be published at or near the time the person registers with the sheriff at least once, and, at the sheriff's option, may be published more than once, in the legal organ of the appropriate county. The notice shall include the address of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation website for additional information regarding the sexual offender registry.
(b) The convicted person for which a notice of conviction and release from confinement is published pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section shall be assessed $25.00 for the cost of publication of such notice, and such assessment shall be imposed at the time of reporting to the sheriff's office.
(c) The sheriff, the publisher of any legal organ which publishes a notice of conviction and release from confinement, and any other person involved in the publication of an erroneous notice of conviction and release from confinement shall be immune from civil or criminal liability for such erroneous publication, provided that such publication was made in good faith.
Please choose one of the links below:
