---
title: O.C.G.A. § 17-22-4. Claim procedure.
collection: code
id: 17-22-4
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 17-22-4 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-22-4
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-22-4.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-22-4/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t17-(v15)-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=6c4dfdf8_0#page=178
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-22.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE / WRONGFUL CONVICTION AND INCARCERATION COMPENSATION
---

# O.C.G.A. § 17-22-4. Claim procedure.

(a) A claim for compensation under this chapter shall:

(1) Be filed directly with the Office of State Administrative Hearings;

(2) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this Code section, be filed within three years after the date of the acknowledgment obtained pursuant to Code Section 17-22-12, or within three years of July 1, 2025, whichever occurs later;

(3) Be captioned “In the Matter of the Wrongful Conviction of [Claimant];” and

(4) Be served on the Attorney General and the prosecuting district attorney.

(b) If, during the two years before the limitations period under paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of this Code section would otherwise expire, the claimant obtains new evidence of innocence that the claimant could not previously have obtained with reasonable diligence, the claimant may file a claim under this chapter within two years of the date on which the claimant obtains such new evidence.

(c) If, after the limitations period under paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of this Code section has expired, the claimant obtains new evidence of innocence that the claimant could not previously have obtained with reasonable diligence, the claimant may file a claim under this chapter within two years of the date on which the claimant obtains such new evidence.

(d) A claim for compensation may be brought under this chapter by the heirs at law or the legal representative of a deceased individual.

## History

Code 1981, § 17-22-4, enacted by Ga. L. 2025, p. 887, § 2-1/SB 244, effective July 1, 2025.