Mariam’s Law signed by Gov. Brian Kemp after several ANF investigations

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law Thursday morning a series of expanded restrictions for convicted sex offenders.

House Bill 188, known as Mariam’s Law, is designed to better track these individuals. The bill was approved earlier this year by the Georgia General Assembly.

The law comes after several Atlanta News First investigations 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.

“Love always wins,” said her brother Ali Abdulrab. “The love Mariam left behind was a huge part of getting this law into place. It’ll be a big part of preventing future crimes like Mariam’s from happening.”

“I see it saving lives,” he said.

State Sen. John Albers (R-Roswell) said the bill “assures any dangerous sexual predators are going to be monitored for the rest of their life. We need to make sure if someone is no longer in jail that they don’t pose a threat to society.

“Without a doubt, Mariam is smiling down from heaven today.”

Albers also credited Atlanta News First as “part of the reason we’re here today. Your proactive approach to this; your in-depth journalism; and getting the word out there of a tragedy that we could turn into a positive, is part of the reason we’re getting to spend this time together today. Specifically, I want to thank you and the news station for making this a priority.”

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 requires 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 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 also changes the name of the Sexual Offender Registration Review Board to the Sexual Offender Risk Review Board.

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