Georgia

Georgia

Final grade: B-

Exclusion Grade

C-

Relevance Grade

A

Due Process Grade

C

Strengths

  • Boards may only use directly related crimes and must consider evidence of rehabilitation.

Areas of Improvement

  • Strengthen safeguards for due process by requiring a petition process and placing the burden of proof on the state.
  • Ban agencies from using arrest records, old convictions, and crimes of “moral turpitude” to disqualify applicants.

Thanks to a 2016 reform, Georgia earned one of the country’s highest Relevance grades. 

Statute: Ga. Code Ann. § 43-1-19

Exclusion
Overarching ban on blanket bans Yes
Ban on considering arrest records No
Ban on considering post-conviction relief records No
Time limit No limit
Ban on vague, discretionary character standards No
Relevance
Relationship between the crime and the license sought "Directly relates"
Required factors for consideration
Rehabilitation Yes
Time elapsed since crime was committed Yes
Age when crime was committed Yes
Employment History No
Testimonials No
Due Process
Petition Process No, but applicants can request a hearing before a board decides to disqualify
Burden of Proof Both unspecified
Right to appeal Yes
Written notice requirement Yes