Ban Lifted On Sex Offenders

ATLANTA (AP) -- A restriction on sex offenders in Georgia has been overturned by the state's top court. The law had barred registered sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools, churches

Wednesday, November 21st 2007, 2:32 pm

By: News On 6

ATLANTA (AP) -- A restriction on sex offenders in Georgia has been overturned by the state's top court. The law had barred registered sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools, churches and other places where children gather.

In an opinion, the court's presiding justice writes there's no place sex offenders can live in Georgia without being "continually at risk of being rejected."

The law was passed in 2006 and has been the target of civil rights groups. Some argued it could backfire by encouraging offenders to stop reporting where they live to authorities.

About 11,000 registered sex offenders live in Georgia.