Georgia Sex Offender Registry Removal Lawyer
People convicted of sex offenses are required to register on the sex offender registry for the rest of their lives. However, in 2010 the Georgia legislature expanded the class of people who can petition the courts for release from the sex offender registry, the residence restrictions, the employment restrictions, or all of the above. Ben Goldberg is one of only a few Georgia Sex Offender Registry Removal Lawyers.
The sex offender registry statute of Georgia has changed many times over the years. At one time, the statute was so broad that even people convicted of non-sexual offenses involving children came under the definition of sex offender. If you were convicted of false imprisonment or kidnapping involving a child, and the offense was not sexual in nature, you may be eligible for removal from the sex offender registry.
Another change in the law has enabled another class of people to petition the courts for release. Numerous offenses that were at one time felonies are now misdemeanors under Georgia law. These offenses involved people who were eighteen (18) years old or younger at the time of the offense and victims who were fourteen (14) years old or older, and with no more than a four (4) year age difference between the two. If these circumstances apply to your case, you may be eligible to petition for removal from the sex offender registry immediately, even if you are still on probation.
Most people who qualify for removal from the registry are those who have completed their sentence and have proven since that time that they are not a risk to commit any offenses in the future. If it has been less than ten (10) years since your sentence has expired, you will need to be classified by the Sexual Offender Registration Review Board of Georgia (SORRB) as a Low Risk to reoffend in order to have your petition even considered by a superior court judge.
What Is The Process For Petitioning For Release From The Registry?
Many petitioners will need to be classified by the Sexual Offender Registration Review Board of Georgia (SORRB) before having their petition heard in court. Ben has developed a winning formula in these cases, in convincing both the SORRB and the court that his client meets the legal criteria for removal from the registry. He is a Georgia Sex Offender Registry Removal Lawyer with a winning percentage of close to 100%.
The petitioners in these cases have to prove that they are not a significant risk to commit any future dangerous sexual offenses. This requires a Level I classification from the SORRB and oftentimes requires an independent risk assessment by a psychologist.
In many cases, the petitioners also have to prove that they meet six (6) legal criteria: (1) no other convictions of a sexual nature, (2) no similar transactions, (3) no evidence that the victim in the case that requires the individual to register was physically restrained, (4) no evidence of a weapon, (5) no evidence of physical harm and (6) no evidence of transportation.
Ben can determine very quickly whether you can meet the necessary legal criteria for success in your case. If so, he will file a petition for release from the registry in the superior court of the original conviction or, if the conviction was in another state, the superior court of whatever county you live in.
For a more detailed description of the process involved in petitioning for registry removal, click here.
Why Do You Need A Lawyer To Get Released From The Registry?
The procedure involved in a petition for removal from the registry is complex. One wrong move and your petition could be dismissed before you even get a chance to argue your case to the judge. Ben knows the law inside and out, and he will make sure that your case follows all the procedural requirements.
Unfortunately, there are also ways that an unrepresented petitioner can harm themselves in this process. A petitioner may think that they are a great candidate for a Level I classification by the SORRB only to find themselves classified at a higher level. This can have drastic consequences, including a requirement that you wear an ankle monitor for the rest of your life. Ben knows how to avoid these potential pitfalls.
Ben has successfully helped dozens of people remove the stigma that is the sex offender registry. He is one of the few lawyers in Georgia that handles these types of cases. Contact Ben for a free consultation to determine whether you are eligible to petition for release from the sex offender registry. He can be reached any time at 404-985-9772.
As a Georgia Sex Offender Registry Removal Attorney, Ben has represented people all over the metro Atlanta area.