Criminal Justice

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

in committee · Georgia · Senate Jan 28, 2025

SB 32: Obstruction of Public Administration; convicted of doing violence in the obstruction or hindering of law enforcement officers; provide for a mandatory minimum sentence

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 10 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to obstruction of public administration and related offenses, so as to provide for a mandatory minimum sentence for those convicted of doing violence in the obstruction or hindering of law enforcement officers; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandatory minimum sentences for violent obstruction of law enforcement increase penalties and restrict judicial discretion, opposing criminal justice reform trends.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

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

Track

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

Track

in committee · Georgia · House Feb 26, 2026

HB 821: Criminal procedure; include aggravated assault as a bailable offense only before a superior court judge

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 6 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to bonds and recognizances, so as to include aggravated assault as a bailable offense only before a superior court judge; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts defendant rights by limiting bail eligibility for aggravated assault to superior court judges only, reducing pretrial freedom without reform indicators.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Judges Violent Crime

Track

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

Track

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

Track

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

Track

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

Track

died · Georgia · House Apr 4, 2025

HB 533: Wrongful Conviction Compensation Act; enact

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Titles 17 and 28 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to criminal procedure and General Assembly, respectively, so as to allow for wrongful conviction compensation claims; to provide for a short title; to provide for notice of claims; to require administrative law judges within the Office of State Administrative Hearings to hear and evaluate such claims; to provide for the burden of proof and evidence to be considered by an administrative law judge; to require the Supreme Court of Georgia and the State Board of Pardons and Paroles to provide certain individuals with a copy of this Act; to provide for definitions; to exclude wrongful conviction compensation claims from the purview of the Claims Advisory Board; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables compensation for wrongful convictions, advancing criminal justice reform by providing redress for victims and holding systems accountable.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Judges

Track