Georgia Youthful Offender Act

September 10, 2021

Official Code of Georgia Annotated Section 35-3-37(j)


Your record can be restricted aka expunged under the Youthful Offender Act.

If you were convicted of certain misdemeanor charges when you were under the age of twenty-one (21) or a series of misdemeanors arising from a single incident, you may be eligible.


  • Some misdemeanor offenses are not eligible for restriction like
  • Serious Traffic Offenses including,
  • Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
  • Reckless Driving
  • Aggressive Driving
  • Theft (does not include Shoplifting)
  • Child Molestation
  • Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes
  • Pimping
  • Keeping a Place of Prostitution
  • Pandering by Compulsion
  • Masturbation for Hire
  • Giving Massages in a Place used for Lewd Sexual Acts
  • Sexual Battery
  • Sexual Assault by Persons with Supervisory or Disciplinary Authority
  • Sexual Exploitation of Children
  • Electronically Furnishing Obscene Material to Minors
  • Obscene Telephone Contact with a Minor
  • Computer Pornography.


If you were not charged and convicted of the crimes listed above AND

You were under the age of twenty-one (21) when convicted;

You successfully completed the sentence; and

You have not been charged with a criminal offense in the last five (5) years before you are petitioning for restriction (excluding non-serious traffic offenses), THEN your record can be expunged and you can start life again with a clean (or cleaner) slate.

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