{"id":372726,"date":"2016-03-31T21:35:02","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:35:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/georgia-law\/georgia-criminal-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-03-25T16:13:19","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T21:13:19","slug":"georgia-criminal-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/georgia-law\/georgia-criminal-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Georgia Criminal Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n \n Georgia Criminal Laws\n <\/h1>\n \n Learn about your state’s laws by using the links below.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

The criminal code of Georgia defines criminal behavior and outlines penalties appropriate for each type of crime. Each criminal act has a specific definition, degrees of severity, and possible defenses. The general provisions of the Georgia Criminal Code affirm that only actions proscribed by statutes of Georgia or another state constitute crimes (\u00a7 16-1-4<\/a>).<\/p>\r\n

The criminal code<\/a> gives Georgia’s criminal justice system the framework to ensure fair and proportional penalties for all criminal actions brought to court. It also ensures that law enforcement has guidelines for maintaining public order.<\/p>\r\n

Types of Crimes and Criminal Offenses in Georgia<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

To convict someone of a crime in Georgia, prosecutors must prove criminal liability. This means an intent to commit a crime or criminal negligence (\u00a7 16-2-1<\/a>). If there was no intent or wanton recklessness indicative of criminal negligence, there was no crime.<\/p>\r\n

Georgia has two broad categories for most offenses, felonies, and misdemeanors (\u00a7 16-1-3<\/a>).<\/p>\r\n