Criminal Justice

in committee · Georgia · Senate Feb 18, 2025

SB 176: "Victims of Wrongful Incarceration Compensation Act"; establish

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to criminal procedure, so as to establish the "Victims of Wrongful Incarceration Compensation Act"; to provide for a short title; to provide for eligibility; to provide for definitions; to provide for the compensation of wrongfully incarcerated persons; to provide for requisition procedures and for certification of eligibility for compensation; to provide for criminal records checks; to provide for the calculation, payment, and limit of such compensation; to provide for waivers and release; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCompensates victims of wrongful incarceration, advancing criminal justice reform by addressing systemic errors and protecting civil rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights

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in committee · Georgia · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SB 286: Courts and Penal Institutions; substance abuse programs and mental health treatment programs in county and municipal jails for inmates; provide

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Titles 15 and 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to courts and penal institutions respectively, so as to provide for substance abuse programs and mental health treatment programs in county and municipal jails for inmates and applicants to such programs; to provide for drug court divisions and mental health court divisions to establish procedures for voluntary admission into such programs; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes substance abuse and mental health treatment programs in jails to promote rehabilitation and reduce recidivism, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates mental health treatment programs in county jails, directly supporting mental health services within correctional facilities per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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introduced · Georgia · House Mar 3, 2025

HB 673: Criminal procedure; limitations on bars to first offender treatment for certain minor offenders adjudicated as adults; provide

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 10 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to procedure for sentencing and imposition of punishment, so as to provide for limitations on bars to first offender treatment for certain minor offenders adjudicated as adults; to amend Article 3 of Chapter 8 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to first offenders, so as to provide for retroactive first offender treatment under certain circumstances for offenders who were adjudicated as minors; to revise sentencing laws in conflict with these provisions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands retroactive first offender treatment for minor offenders, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Sentencing

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introduced · Georgia · House Mar 4, 2025

HB 682: Criminal procedure; death penalty shall not be imposed if only evidence is testimony of a single eyewitness; provide

A BILL To be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 10 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the death penalty generally, so as to provide that the death penalty shall not be imposed if the only evidence of the defendant's guilt is the testimony of a single eyewitness; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents death penalty imposition based solely on single eyewitness testimony, strengthening defendant rights and aligning with criminal justice reform principles.92% confidence

Track

passed · Georgia · Senate Mar 31, 2026

SR 432: Senate Higher Education in Prison Study Committee; create

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates committee to study expanding prison education, a proven criminal justice reform strategy to reduce recidivism and improve rehabilitation programs.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates committee to study expanding postsecondary education access for incarcerated individuals, advancing educational opportunities in higher education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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introduced · Georgia · House Mar 25, 2025

HB 804: Crimes and offenses; codify proclamation that would grant a pardon regarding offense of simple possession of marijuana

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 16-13-30 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to purchase, possession, manufacture, distribution, or sale of controlled substances or marijuana and penalties, so as to codify the proclamation by the Office of the President of the United States that would grant a pardon and restore full political, civil, and other rights regarding the offense of simple possession of marijuana; to provide for limitations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCodifies federal pardon for marijuana possession, restoring civil rights and advancing criminal justice reform by reducing barriers for minor offenses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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introduced · Georgia · House Mar 31, 2025

HR 756: General Assembly; preserve access to safety and justice for all survivors of gender-based violence and human trafficking; encourage

A RESOLUTION encouraging the General Assembly to preserve access to safety and justice for all survivors of gender-based violence and human trafficking by adopting language that ensures protection for immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other crimes to safely report to and assist law enforcement, and to prevent the assistance from law enforcement from being used as a tool of control and abuse; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill ensures immigrant survivors can safely report crimes to law enforcement without exploitation, protecting victim access to justice - directly advancing criminal justice reform through victim-centered protections.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProtects immigrant survivors' access to justice by preventing law enforcement from using their assistance against them, ensuring safe reporting without fear of immigration consequences.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Human Trafficking Violent Crime

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in committee · Georgia · Senate Apr 2, 2025

SB 371: Mental Health and Penal Institutions; grant program to create peer support programs in hospitals; establish

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 37 and Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia, relating to mental health and penal institutions, respectively, so as to establish a grant program to create peer support programs in hospitals; to create peer support programs for individuals in penal institutions; to provide for quarterly and annual reports; to provide for consultation and cooperation with agencies, courts, organizations, and any entity which interacts with individuals who are incarcerated, on parole, or on probation to establish peer mentor programs; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes peer support programs in penal institutions to improve rehabilitation and mental health, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing recidivism.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes grant program for peer support mental health services in hospitals, directly funding and advancing mental health care access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Mental Health

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passed · Georgia · Senate Apr 2, 2025

SR 429: Senate Addressing Felony Disenfranchisement in Georgia's Constitution Study Committee; create

SR 429 creates a Senate study committee to examine Georgia's felony disenfranchisement laws, which deny voting rights to people with felony convictions even after they've completed prison sentences. The committee, composed of six senators appointed by the Senate President, will study the current constitutional clause, assess its impact on reintegration, and recommend potential reforms by December 1, 2025. It will specifically evaluate whether to allow voting rights restoration for individuals serving community supervision post-incarceration, considering economic, legal, and societal effects. This resolution does not change voting rights directly but sets up a process to review and potentially reform Georgia's approach to felony disenfranchisement.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates committee to study restoring voting rights for felons, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reintegration and civil rights restoration.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Probation & Parole

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introduced · Georgia · House Apr 4, 2025

HB 894: Georgia Second Look Act; enact

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 10 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to procedure for sentencing and imposition of punishment, so as to authorize the sentencing court to review and resentence certain cases where the punishment of life without parole was imposed; to provide for a petition; to provide for a hearing; to provide for the right to counsel; to provide for notice to the victim; to provide for an appeal process; to provide for limitations; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows courts to review life without parole sentences, enabling resentencing for rehabilitation and reform - directly advancing criminal justice reform through procedural protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing

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