The State of Georgia is different from other states in that there are no numbered or lettered classes of felonies.
Felony Sentencing and Convictions in Georgia
In Georgia, there are no numbered or lettered differentiated felonies. Therefore, there are no classified felonies in the State of Georgia. However, a unique aspect to Georgia law is the First Offenders Act. This law indicates that once one completes their sentence and is released by the court, the defendant is completely exonerated and is not considered as a convicted felon. However, this does not apply to all felonies. For example, the First Offenders Act does not apply to sex offenders or other types of crimes defined in the Act. In addition, the Act does not completely protect the convict. For instance, the convict may still be excluded from certain types of jobs.
Georgia Felony Charges
Some major felony offenses in Georgia and their respective sentences include:
- murder (sentence of death or imprisonment for life)
- manslaughter (sentence of death or imprisonment for life)
- drug crimes (sentencing varies depending upon the amount of drugs; can carry up to 30 years imprisonment and fines of up to 1 million dollars)
- rape (sentence of 25 years to life imprisonment)
- child molestation (sentence of 5 to 25 years imprisonment)
- theft (sentence of 1-25 years depending upon the circumstances)
- robbery (sentence of 1-25 years depending upon the circumstances)
- aggravated assault (sentence of 1 to 20 years)
- vehicular homicide (sentence of 3 to 15 years imprisonment)
- obstruction of justice (sentence of 1 to 5 years)
- theft by shoplifting of goods over $500.00 (sentence of 1 to 5 years imprisonment)
- DUI (sentence varies depending upon the particular circumstances, whether it was a first or repeat offense and whether there was an injury or fatality involved)
Georgia Felony Records and Expungement
As discussed above, Georgia has the First Offenders Act which is applicable to the issue of record expungement. This Act may, under certain circumstances, permit a defendant to essentially wipe the slate clean with respect to a felonious criminal past.
Georgia Felony Statute of Limitations
There is no statute of limitations for murder in Georgia. With a forcible rape, the prosecution must be filed within fifteen years of the offense. In addition, prosecutions for all other crimes punishable by death or life imprisonment must be in seven years from the date of the offense. All other felonies have to be commenced in four years, unless the victim was under the age of eighteen years; in such an instance, the case must be filed within seven years. Finally, there is an exception for the prosecution of rape, which allows the case to be filed anytime if DNA establishes the identity of the accused rapist.
Help from a Lawyer in Georgia for Felony Charges
If one is charged with a felony in Georgia, one should consider retaining an experienced criminal attorney. An experienced attorney can not only review one’s case in order to determine what options one may have, but also an attorney can help to preserve one’s rights.
