Georgia Sheriffs Arrest 48 Sex Offenders, Issue 235 Warrants During Compliance Operation

From September 22–29, 2025, Georgia law enforcement conducted a large-scale effort to verify compliance among registered sex offenders. The initiative, known as Operation Watchful Eye X, involved 87 sheriff’s offices across the state and resulted in 48 arrests and 235 warrants for violations of state registration laws.

Operation Watchful Eye began in 2015 as a coordinated effort to conduct residence verifications and compliance checks for registered sex offenders during a designated period. Since then, it has become an annual operation to ensure offenders are following the law and to keep communities safe.

During the weeklong operation, deputies, U.S. Marshals, U.S. Probation officers, and Department of Community Supervision officers worked together to confirm addresses and adherence to registration requirements. Preliminary reports show that Georgia currently has 13,798 registered sex offenders, 625 predators, and 667 homeless sex offenders residing in counties monitored by participating sheriffs.

In total, officers conducted 9,633 residence verifications, identified 81 new offenders moving into reporting counties, and issued 118 warrants for residency violations. Additional warrants included 60 for other registry law violations, seven for new sex offenses, and 50 for miscellaneous charges. Investigators also found 684 offenders who had absconded from their last known address, requiring ongoing efforts to locate them.

Sheriffs’ offices emphasized that the operation demonstrates the importance of statewide cooperation and public awareness in keeping communities safe. Residents are encouraged to visit their local sheriff’s office website or the Georgia Sex Offender Registry at http://gbi.georgia.gov/georgia-sex-offender-registry for more information on registered sex offenders in their area.