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Criminal Procedure

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE Victim Compensation: Change Certain Definitions; Define Additional Terms; Repeal Certain Provisions; Change Certain Provisions; Change Powers of the Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Board

The Act is a comprehensive revision of existing legislation providing compensation for crime victims. It changes certain definitions, adds new terms, and changes the powers of the Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Board. The Act also provides for direct payments to victims or other claimants for certain losses or reimbursements, provides

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE Sentence and Punishment: Provide that Persons Who are Convicted of Certain Serious Violent Felonies Shall Serve Minimum Prison Sentences and Other Court Ordered Sentences in Their Entirety; Provide that a Person Who Has Been Convicte...

The Sentence Reform Act of 1994 provides for a minimum sentence of ten years for persons convicted for the first time of serious violent felonies with the sentence to be served in its entirety. Furthermore, the Act provides that when the court orders sentences for first-time conviction of serious violent

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE Sentencing and Punishment: Permit Judicial Consideration of Certain Evidence and Testimony in Cases Where the Death Penalty May be Imposed

The Act amends Georgia law relating to the admissibility of victim impact evidence to include those cases in which life imprisonment or the death penalty may be imposed. The Act provides procedures for the introduction of evidence which demonstrates the emotional impact of the defendant's crime upon the

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE Limitations on Prosecution: Provide for the Tolling of the Statute of Limitations for Prosecutions of Certain Offenses Against Children

The Act provides that the applicable statute of limitations for certain criminal offenses against victims under sixteen years of age will be tolled until the victim reaches the age of sixteen or the violation is reported to certain governmental agencies, whichever occurs first. Download PDF

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE Trial: Amend Provisions Relating to Closed Circuit Television Testimony of Child Victims of Certain Sexual Offenses

The Act provides that a child victim of rape, sodomy, child molestation, cruelty to children, or sexual assault may testify out of court, and such testimony will be broadcast in the courtroom by way of closed circuit television. During testimony, only the judge, attorneys, camera operators, and a representative of

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE Bonds and Recognizances: Provide for Increased Bail and for Filing of Separate Police Reports for Incidents of Family Violence

HB 448 provides for increased bail when an offense involves an act of family violence. If the offense involves serious injury and the arresting officer believes further violence is possible, it is bailable only before a judicial officer. HB 449 provides that a separate report shall be filed whenever a