Sex Offender Registration in Georgia: Understanding Your Obligations and Rights

With most criminal offenses, defendants can serve their sentence and hopefully return to their community to rebuild their lives. Sex crimes are different. In most cases, a person convicted of a sexually based offense in Georgia is required to register as a sex offender with the sheriff of the county where they reside. This registration must be kept up to date at all times. Failure to comply can lead to additional criminal charges and ultimately a return to prison.

With that in mind, here is a basic rundown of how Georgia’s Sex Offender Registry works, and what you need to know if you are facing a criminal charge that could force you to register in the future.

The Legal Definition of a “Sexual Offender” in Georgia

Under Georgia’s Sex Offender Registry law, the following persons are required to register:

• Anyone convicted on or after July 1, 1996, of a criminal offense against a victim who was a minor;
• Anyone convicted on or after July 1, 1996, of a dangerous sexual offense;
• Anyone previously convicted of a crime against a minor, a sexually violent offense, or a dangerous sexual offense, and who was subsequently released from prison or placed on parole, supervised release, or probation on or after July 1, 1996;
• Any Georgia resident who was convicted of a dangerous sexual offense under federal law, the laws of any other state, tribal government, or by a military court-martial, on or after July 1, 1996;
• Any Georgia resident who was convicted of a sexually violent offense or a criminal offense against a minor under federal law, the laws of any other state, tribal government, or by a military court-martial, on or after July 1, 1999;
• Anyone required to register as a sex offender under the law of another jurisdiction who subsequently moves to Georgia; or
• Any nonresident sexual offender who enters Georgia to attend school, even if they are not required to register as a sex offender under the law of their home state or another jurisdiction.

Once a person is required to become a registered sex offender, it will impact many parts of their life such as where they can live and work. It will have a major impact on how the offender can live their life.

The Process for Registering as a Sex Offender in Georgia

Typically, when a convicted sex offender is released from prison or placed on probation or parole, they must register within 72 hours with their local sheriff. The offender must provide the following information:

• full legal name;
• Social Security number;
• date of birth;
• age, race, sex, weight, hair color, and eye color;
• fingerprints and photography;
• their address, including any out-of-state address; if the offender lives in a motor vehicle, they must also provide the vehicle identification number, license tag number, and a physical description of the vehicle;
• their telephone number, including any landlines;
• if employed, their current employer, the employer’s address, and the dates of employment;
• if they own a motor vehicle, a description of the vehicle’s make, model, color, and license tag number;
• if attending a college or university, the name, address, and county of the institution, together with current enrollment status; and
• If the offender is currently homeless, they must provide the location where they regularly sleep.

All of this information must be updated if the offender moves, changes jobs or schools, or there is any other change in circumstances that alters the information originally provided to law enforcement. The offender is responsible for reporting such changes to the local sheriff within 72 hours. This includes out-of-state offenders who subsequently relocate to Georgia. In cases where a Georgia sexual offender moves out of the state, they must inform the sheriff in the last Georgia county where they lived, as well as the local law enforcement agency in their new state.

What Happens If I Fail to Register as a Sex Offender in Georgia?

Failure to register as a sex offender–or providing false information during the registration process–can be charged with a felony under Georgia law, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. Keep in mind, under Georgia law, a person is generally required to remain on the Sex Offender Registry for life unless a court removes that requirement. An offender must file a petition with the Superior Court to seek removal.

Contact a Georgia Sex Crimes Defense Attorney Today

Mandatory sex offender registration is just one of many serious consequences that can follow a sex crime conviction in Georgia. If you are charged with such an offense, it is therefore imperative that you work with a qualified Georgia, sex crime defense attorney who can zealously represent your interests. Call Moffitt Law, LLC, today at 762-200-2924 to schedule a free consultation.