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SB 244, the “Wrongful Conviction and Incarceration Compensation Act,” took effect July 1, 2025, marking a huge step forward for justice in Georgia. This new law creates a standardized process to compensate individuals who were wrongfully convicted of crimes and later exonerated. Under the law, exonerees are entitled to $75,000 for each year they were imprisoned wrongly, plus an additional $25,000 per year if they spent time on death row. It also reimburses expenses like legal fees, court fines, and restitution they paid. Importantly, SB 244 establishes a dedicated state fund and a formal claims process (handled through the Office of State Administrative Hearings) so that innocent people no longer have to beg the legislature individually for compensation. In a bold addition, the law even allows wrongfully accused defendants to recover attorney’s fees if prosecutorial misconduct led to their case’s dismissal – a signal that Georgia is holding bad actors accountable.

How This Affects You: For anyone who has been exonerated in Georgia, this law is life-changing. After enduring years behind bars for a crime you didn’t commit, you now have a clear path to financial recovery and support to rebuild your life. While money can’t return lost time, it can help with basic needs like housing, education, and counseling. Society benefits because this law acknowledges the state’s responsibility in miscarriages of justice – Georgia is literally “righting wrongs” with real dollars. It also incentivizes prosecutors to uphold high ethical standards, knowing their office budget could take a hit if they commit misconduct. From a broader perspective, Georgia’s compensation amounts (which adjust for inflation starting in 2026) put it among the more generous states for exonerees.

For a Georgia criminal defense lawyer, SB 244 is a welcome reform: it means our innocent clients, once cleared, won’t be left destitute. This new law restores some faith in the system and will be a critical tool for justice advocates and innocence projects across the state.

Who does it apply to?

You are eligible to file a claim if the Claimant has been:

• Convicted of a felony by a court of this state AND
• Served all or part of the sentence for such felony AND one of the following:
  • The Claimant’s conviction was reversed or vacated AND the charges were dismissed after the conviction was reversed or vacated; or
  • The Claimant’s conviction was reversed or vacated AND the Claimant was acquitted; or
  • The conviction was reversed or vacated AND the Claimant entered an Alford plea or a plea of nolo contendere when the Claimant would otherwise have been entitled to a new trial; or
  • The Claimant received a pardon based on innocence.

Georgia already has the website up and running. As of August 17, 2025, you can go here to file for your wrongful conviction compensation.