Facing a criminal charge in Georgia

Bond and pretrial release in Georgia

O.C.G.A. section 17-6-1 governs which offenses are bailable and which are bailable only before a superior court judge. Under subsection (f), a court of inquiry may by written order establish a schedule of bails, and an accused shall be released upon posting bail as fixed in the schedule unless otherwise ordered. Offenses involving family violence under O.C.G.A. section 19-13-1 and DUI offenses under O.C.G.A. section 40-6-391 are excluded from schedule release and must have bail set individually by a judge. Under subsection (e), the court may release on bail upon finding no significant risk of flight, no significant threat to persons or community, no significant risk of further felonies pending trial, and no significant risk of witness intimidation. Bond types include cash, secured by approved sureties under O.C.G.A. section 17-6-4, property bond, and unsecured judicial release. Bail review may be sought at any time.

Bond amounts, conditions, and timelines vary by county and judge. Confirm with counsel or the court.

Criminal defense attorneys serving Georgia

Our directory is still building in Georgia. Public-defender intake is available now.

Record clearing in Georgia

Georgia record restriction and sealing is governed by O.C.G.A. 35-3-37 (record restriction) and O.C.G.A. 17-1-1 (sealing of court records). SB 288 (effective January 2021) expanded eligibility for sealing some misdemeanor convictions after a waiting period.

Eligibility, waiting periods, and the petition vs. automatic pathway depend on the conviction class and the date of the offense. Confirm with counsel or the court record.

Public defender intake in Georgia

Georgia Public Defender Council serves STATEWIDE County. Public defenders are appointed by the court based on financial eligibility. We do not refer you to a specific public defender and we do not represent you.

Public defenders are appointed by the court based on financial eligibility. LawSensai does not refer you to a public defender and does not represent you. This packet is a courtesy summary you can share with your public defender or their intake staff. You remain responsible for applying to the court for appointed counsel.