A Georgia bill that would reduce sentences for individuals whose crimes were influenced by domestic abuse is on its way to becoming law. If signed by the governor, Georgia would join Oklahoma, Illinois, New York, and California in allowing domestic abuse victims—either currently incarcerated or charged with a crime—to request reduced sentences and present evidence showing that abuse contributed to their actions.
The bill, sponsored by Republican Rep. Stan Gunter, would also make it easier for future defendants to prove that their crimes were driven by abuse and allow them to introduce more types of evidence. Current Georgia law strictly limits what abuse-related evidence can be presented and under what circumstances.
Under the proposed law, if a judge determines that family violence, dating violence, or child abuse contributed to a crime carrying a minimum sentence of life in prison, the judge would be required to impose a sentence of 10 to 30 years—unless prosecutors agree to an even lighter sentence.
