Georgia Rape Defense Attorney - Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register as a sex offender in Georgia?

If you have been convicted and are required to register as a sex offender it is important that you remain in compliance with all of your legal responsibilities. While the process may be unpleasant, the crime of failing to register as a sex offender can lead to serious consequences. Failing to comply with registration requirements (from providing false information to simply not registering) can lead to a felony charge and a prison term of one to 30 years.

According to Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 42-1-12), anyone mandated to register as a sex offender must take the following steps:

• Provide all required registration information to the appropriate official before being released from prison or placed on parole, supervised release, or probation;

• Register in person with the sheriff of the county in which the offender resides within 72 hours after release from prison or placement on parole, supervised release, probation, or entry into the state of Georgia. (If the offender is homeless, he must register with the sheriff of the county in which he sleeps and provide the location where he sleeps);

• Renew the required registration information by reporting to the sheriff within 72 hours prior to the offender's birthday each year to be photographed and fingerprinted;

• Update the required registration information with the sheriff within 72 hours of any change to that information. If the offender moves, they must provide their new address to both the sheriff in the county in which they last registered and the sheriff of their new county of residence (all within 72 hours of the move).

• Maintain the required registration information with the sheriff for the rest of their lives (except for periods of incarceration) unless they gain removal from the registry.

Georgia categorizes certain individuals as “sexually dangerous predators.” These are the people who have committed particularly heinous crimes and are perceived as most likely to re-offend. In addition to the normal registration requirements, sexually dangerous predators must report to their local sheriff every 6 months to update or verify their information.

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