Georgia law provides for the most serious violent offenses known as the “Seven Deadly Sins.” These are the most heinous crimes in our society and, as such, have specialized punishment including mandatory minimum punishment and limited eligibility for parole. This article will list the serious violent felonies as proscribed by law and detail the punishment surrounding them.

Seven Deadly Sins

O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.1(a) lists the “Serious Violent Felonies” in Georgia criminal law:

• Murder, Felony Murder
• Armed Robbery
• Kidnapping
• Rape
• Aggravated Child Molestation
• Aggravated Sodomy
• Aggravated Sexual Battery

If convicted of any of these offenses, the sentencing court is required to impose no less than the statutory minimum sentences of imprisonment. O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.1(b).

Mandatory Minimum Sentences of Imprisonment

10 years imprisonment

• Armed Robbery
• Kidnapping (victim 14 years or older)

25 years (followed by probation for life)

• Kidnapping (victim under 14)
• Rape
• Aggravated Child Molestation
• Aggravated Sodomy
• Aggravated Sexual Battery

Life

• Murder, Felony Murder

 

Eligible for Parole?

• Defendants sentenced to 10 years confinement must serve all 10 years and is not eligible for parole
• Defendants sentenced to 25 years confinement must serve all 25 years without possibility of parole
• Defendants sentenced to Life is parole eligible after 30 years
• Defendants sentenced to death whose sentences is commuted to life is parole eligible after 30 years
• Defendants sentenced to life without parole will never receive parole

O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.1(c)(1) – (4).

First Offender Treatment is not available to any of the Serious Violent Felonies.

Contact Us

If you or someone you know has been arrested, contact the law firm of W. Scott Smith at 404.581.0999 today for a free case evaluation. You’ll find a local Atlanta attorney ready to aggressively fight on your behalf. You can also find out more detailed information about Atlanta laws here.