GBI sorting through 3,000 returned sex-offender registry letters

ATLANTA - The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is sorting through about three-thousand returned sex-offender registry letters. <br> <br> So far, the state has not been able to locate 166 people who are supposed to be listed in the registry -- designed to track convicted sex offenders. <br> <br> That number is expected to increase as the G.B.I. continues to sort through all the returned letters. <br> <br> The G.B.I. sends thousands of letters annually to offenders, reminding them they are required to register their whereabouts annually. <br> <br> Because of a chronic lack of compliance, the Legislature made failure to register a felony effective July 1. <br> <br> Officials hope that will help reduce the number of missing offenders. <br> <br> The online registry was introduced in 1997 with 856 offenders, their address, crimes and a photograph when one was available.