GA HB582

HB 582 - Georgia Survivor Justice Act

• Defendants charged with crimes under Chapter 5 (crimes against persons) may present evidence of family violence, dating violence, or child abuse committed by the alleged victim to support a self-defense justification claim.

• Expands the coercion defense to apply to all crimes except murder, allowing defendants to avoid guilt if they reasonably believed the criminal act was necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily injury to themselves or a third person.

• Creates a new sentencing option allowing courts to impose reduced sentences (10-30 years for death/life-eligible crimes; 1 year to half the maximum for other felonies) when abuse by the victim was a significant contributing factor to the offense.

• Establishes evidentiary privilege for communications made during victim-centered practices and victim-offender dialogues, protecting such communications from disclosure in legal proceedings and granting civil immunity to facilitators.

• Requires all peace officers taking their oath on or after July 1, 2025, to swear a uniform oath and limits prosecution for violation of oath to cases involving felonies or high and aggravated misdemeanors.