Georgia Senate approves more restrictions for convicted sex offenders

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - A bill expanding electronic ankle monitor restrictions for convicted sex offenders was passed by the Georgia State Senate on Monday.

House Bill 188, known as Mariam’s Law, aims to better track these individuals. The bill was unanimously passed out of the state Senate Public Safety Committee last week. The House had already approved the measure. The Senate vote came on the second-to-last day of this year’s Georgia General Assembly session.

The proposed law comes after an Atlanta News First investigation exposed a loophole that allowed a repeat sex offender to get out of prison only to, prosecutors say, kidnap and kill 27-year-old Mariam Abdulrab, on her way home from work.

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Abdulrab’s family believes the restrictions that come with Mariam’s Law could stop violent crimes, before they happen.

“We do not wish this upon anyone else. And if this bill does become a law, it will prevent other tragedies from happening,” Mariam’s brother, Ali Abdulrab, said.

MORE COVERAGE OF MARIAM’S LAW

• Senate committee approves ankle monitors for convicted sex offenders
• State House passes Mariam’s Law, expanding restrictions for convicted sex offenders
• Mariam’s Law: Georgia loophole frees convicted sex offender now accused of murder
• Atlanta leaders urge state lawmakers to adopt Mariam’s Law, expand restrictions
• LISTEN | 911 calls released from the night Mariam Abdulrab was kidnapped, murdered

The law would require sex offenders who have not received a risk-level assessment to be fitted with an ankle monitor. Once they are leveled, the most dangerous offenders would have to wear the monitor for the duration of their probation, while lower-level offenders could have them removed if the state Department of Community Supervision approves.

Abdulrab’s alleged killer was a repeat sex offender with a record of violent crimes, including child molestation, attempted rape and cruelty to children. But when DeMarcus Brinkley was released from prison in 2020, he never received a risk level assessment.

The bill would also change the name of the Sexual Offender Registration Review Board to the Sexual Offender Risk Review Board.

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