Criminal Justice

Senate Resolution 432 creates the Senate Higher Education in Prison Study Committee to examine opportunities for expanding postsecondary education in Georgia prisons. The committee, composed of six Senate members (including two bipartisan co-chairs) and four state agency representatives (like corrections and higher education officials), will study current programs, successful national models, and barriers to education access for incarcerated individuals. Its findings may lead to future legislation, but the committee itself has no authority to enact changes and will dissolve by December 1, 2025.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding law enforcement officers and agencies, so as to require persons requesting booking photographs to provide the first and last names of the individuals in the photographs; to require requests for booking photographs to be made as separate requests; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to justification and excuse in defenses to criminal prosecutions, so as to provide for an additional justification for use of force in defense of self or others; to amend Code Section 51-11-9 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to no duty to retreat and immunity in certain instances of threat or use of force, so as to extend immunity from civil liability in justified use of force cases to legal representatives and heirs of the person against whom force was used; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to crimes and offenses, so as to provide the Attorney General concurrent jurisdiction with district attorneys to conduct criminal prosecutions of violent crimes, illegal immigration offenses, and fentanyl offenses; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.