Bill > HB464

This bill adds a new section to Georgia criminal law that provides immunity from arrest, prosecution, or penalties for victims seeking law enforcement assistance in specific serious crime situations. The bill defines a "predominant aggressor" as the individual posing the most serious ongoing threat, and offers protections for victims of certain severe crimes including aggravated assault, aggravated battery, female genital mutilation, kidnapping, rape, aggravated sodomy, and aggravated sexual battery. To qualify for immunity, the victim must be seeking law enforcement assistance in good faith and cannot be an accomplice to the crime they are reporting. The immunity prevents arrest or prosecution for criminal violations that arise solely from seeking assistance, and also protects victims from penalties related to protective order violations or sanctions for probation/parole conditions (specifically for drug violations) that might result from their seeking help. This legislation aims to encourage victims of serious crimes to report their situations to law enforcement without fear of legal repercussions for their own potentially minor infractions.

Justice

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70351