Georgia Rape Defense Attorney - Frequently Asked Questions

If convicted of a sex crime in Georgia, will I have to register as a sex offender?

In most cases, those convicted of a sex crime in Georgia are required to register as a sex offender. This involves reporting to your local authorities periodically and giving them registration information, such as your home address and your fingerprints. Georgia's sex offender registry can be viewed by the public and may be accessed by potential employers and others looking into your background. In addition, severe restrictions are placed on where registered sex offenders are allowed to work and live.

According to Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 42-1-12), sex offender registration is mandatory for those convicted of a “dangerous sexual offense.”

A broad array of offenses may lead to sex offender registration, including rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, statutory rape (for perpetrators over 21 years of age), child molestation, aggravated assault with intent to rape, aggravated sodomy, enticing a child for indecent purposes, electronically furnishing obscene material to minors, computer pornography and child exploitation, obscene telephone contact, incest, and sex trafficking.

In addition, non-sexual crimes involving children under the age of 14, such as kidnapping a minor who is not your child, can lead to sex offender registration.
Those who move to Georgia from out of state and become residents are required to register as a sex offender in Georgia if they were convicted under the laws of another U.S. state, under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, or in a tribal court of a sexually violent offense, a dangerous sexual offense, or a crime against a minor.

Minors are not required to register as sex offenders, unless they are tried and convicted as adults.

Having to register as a sex offender can severely hamper a person's life, making it critical for anyone accused of a sex crime to retain the best legal representation possible. And while sex offenders are supposed to remain on the registry for life, certain groups may be eligible to petition the court for removal. This is a complicated process that also requires the assistance of an experienced sex crimes attorney.

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