Sentencing
Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative (NCJ 250936, 2017)
This Urban Institute brief assesses the impact of Georgia's 2012 House Bill 1176 sentencing reforms under the Justice Reinvestment Initiative. The analysis finds that commitments to prison and probation for affected offenses declined 13% and 9% respectively between 2012 and 2015, while average sentence lengths fell for most offense categories, including a 23% decline in average prison sentences for drug possession. Preliminary data also indicate declines in time served in prison and on probation, and the state's overall prison population fell from a peak of 54,895 in 2012 to 52,962 by 2016.
Where this research is used
This page is a research collection: individual facts drawn from the sources listed further down, each traced to where it came from. A research topic brings many collections together into one overview of an issue. The facts on this page feed these 5 topics; open one to see how they fit with the rest of the evidence.
Parole & Sentencing
Georgia's parole system has contracted sharply over three decades: the Board of Pardons and Paroles released 5,588 people on parole in FY2025, down 42% from 9,455 in FY2019, and its lifer grant rate has fallen from 21.9% in FY2001–FY2006 to roughly 5% today. Average time served on a life sentence for a serious violent felony has risen from under nine years in 1973 to 29.6 years in FY2025 per the Board's own reporting — 31.1 years by GPS's separate count. The result is a system in which parole eligibility at 7, 14, or 30 years increasingly ends in denial, reconsideration up to eight years later, and release for many only at the maximum sentence date.
12,868 data points
Policy & Advocacy
Georgia's policy and advocacy landscape is defined by a paradox: a decade of bipartisan sentencing reform that measurably reduced incarceration and racial disparity, followed by a sharp reversal toward prison construction, surveillance technology, and record spending attached to no independent oversight. Legislative victories on wrongful conviction compensation, survivor justice, and out-of-time appeals sit alongside bills that died in the last minutes of session — an independent prison ombudsman, restrictive housing limits, parole transparency — and a post-conviction system the Chief Justice of Georgia calls 'a mess' that only the legislature can fix. The 2026 statewide elections and an unresolved federal investigation are the two live pressure points advocates are organizing around.
7,412 data points
Population & Demographics
Georgia holds roughly 53,000 people in state custody — the fourth-largest state prison population in the country — after a decades-long buildup, one pandemic-era collapse, and a rebound that has carried the count back toward its pre-COVID level. Black Georgians are about 31 to 33 percent of the state and 58 to 61 percent of its prisoners, and one in five people in a Georgia prison is serving a life sentence. The series that describe this population do not agree with each other, and Georgia publishes no count at all for some of the people it holds.
11,185 data points
Recidivism & Reentry
Georgia reports one of the lowest recidivism rates in the nation — a 25 to 27 percent three-year felony reconviction rate — but that figure counts only new felony convictions, only within three years, and only among people who survive the window. Georgia's own reconviction rate has climbed every year since 2019, reaching 30.7 percent for the 2022 release cohort even as the state spends more than a billion dollars a year on corrections, releases 12,000 to 16,000 people annually with almost no preparation, and funds vocational education at $172,000 statewide. The evidence on what works is unusually clear — education, vocational training, cognitive-behavioral programming, and transitional beds all correlate with substantially lower recidivism — and Georgia has systematized almost none of it at scale.
12,548 data points
Reform Models & Programs
Georgia operates a statewide cognitive-skills curriculum for parolees, twelve reentry and cognitive programming centers, contracted addiction treatment, step-down units inside its Tier segregation system, and an earned-time credit statute — and the national evidence base for each of those program types is unusually strong. What the record does not contain is current, published, rigorously designed outcome data for most of Georgia's own programs, and the state's direct spending on them amounts to a fraction of one percent of the prison budget. This page sets out what the research verifies, what Georgia actually runs, what it spends, what other states have achieved, and where the evidence stops.
12,091 data points
Key Findings
The most impactful data from this research collection. Tap a card for the full finding, GPS commentary on why it matters, and its source.
The finding
The average prison sentence length for drug possession fell 1.5 years, from 7.2 years to 5.6 years (a 23 percent decline).
Why it matters · GPS commentary
Graduated drug possession penalties under H.B. 1176 appear to have shortened the prison terms people convicted of possession receive, though the brief notes that data limits prevented firm causal conclusions.
Our reading of the finding above. It is not part of the source.
The finding
The average probation sentence for drug possession fell 29 percent between 2012 and 2016 from 5.3 to 3.8 years.
Why it matters · GPS commentary
For people sentenced for drug possession, shorter probation terms mean fewer years under supervision conditions, and fewer years in which a violation can lead to revocation and a prison admission.
Our reading of the finding above. It is not part of the source.
The finding
Annual commitments to prison fell 17.4 percent between 2010 and 2016 (from 21,841 to 18,035).
Why it matters · GPS commentary
The drop spans the period when H.B. 1176 was implemented on July 1, 2012, but data limitations kept the brief from drawing causal conclusions, so the decline is shown alongside the reform rather than proven to result from it.
Our reading of the finding above. It is not part of the source.Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- Report of the Georgia Council on Criminal Justice Reform (2017)
The finding
The jail backlog has fallen 84 percent from a high of 5,338 in March 2009 to 818 in January 2016.
Why it matters · GPS commentary
Relief for county jails came alongside fewer prison commitments, but the decline is measured from a 2009 high, before H.B. 1176 took effect in 2012, so the law may explain only part of it.
Our reading of the finding above. It is not part of the source.Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- Report of the Georgia Council on Criminal Justice Reform (2017)
All Data Points
89 verified data points extracted from primary sources.
Georgia prison population more than doubled 1990-2011 Statistic
Between 1990 and 2011, Georgia's prison population more than doubled, and annual corrections spending grew to more than $1 billion.
Georgia prison population 2016 Statistic
By 2016, the number of people incarcerated in Georgia's state prisons was 52,962, down from a peak of 54,895 in 2012.
52,962 people vs. 54,895 peak in 2012
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- Report of the Georgia Council on Criminal Justice Reform (2017)
Prison population decline from 2012 peak Statistic
By the end of 2016, the prison population had fallen 3.5 percent from its peak in 2012 (from 54,895 to 52,962).
3.5%
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- Report of the Georgia Council on Criminal Justice Reform (2017)
Prison commitments declined 13 percent after H.B. 1176 Statistic
Following implementation of H.B. 1176, commitments to prison for offenses affected by the legislation declined 13 percent, and probation commitments fell 9 percent.
13%
Probation commitments declined 9 percent after H.B. 1176 Statistic
Following implementation of H.B. 1176, probation commitments for affected offenses fell 9 percent.
9%
Average prison sentence for drug possession fell 1.5 years Statistic
The average prison sentence length for drug possession fell 1.5 years, from 7.2 years to 5.6 years (a 23 percent decline).
1.5 years vs. 7.2 pre-reform average
Average prison sentence for drug possession 2016 Statistic
In 2016, the average prison sentence for drug possession was 5.6 years, a 23 percent decline since 2012.
5.6 years vs. 7.2 2012 average
Georgia prison system operating at 107 percent capacity in 2011 Statistic
The state prison system was operating at 107 percent capacity in 2011.
107%
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- Report of the Georgia Council on Criminal Justice Reform (2014)
- 2012 Georgia Public Safety Reform: Legislation to Reduce Recidivism and Cut Corrections Costs
- Report of the Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform for Georgians (2011)
Projected prison population growth of 8 percent in five years Statistic
Officials estimated the prison population would increase an additional 8 percent in five years, costing an additional $264 million.
8%
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- Report of the Georgia Council on Criminal Justice Reform (2014)
- 2012 Georgia Public Safety Reform: Legislation to Reduce Recidivism and Cut Corrections Costs
- Report of the Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform for Georgians (2011)
Projected additional corrections cost of $264 million Statistic
Officials estimated the prison population increase would cost an additional $264 million over five years.
$264M
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- Report of the Georgia Council on Criminal Justice Reform (2014)
- 2012 Georgia Public Safety Reform: Legislation to Reduce Recidivism and Cut Corrections Costs
- Report of the Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform for Georgians (2011)
Recidivism rate stagnant for a decade Statistic
Recidivism rates had remained stagnant for at least a decade, and approximately 30 percent of people released from prison were reconvicted of a felony within three years.
30%
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- 2012 Georgia Public Safety Reform: Legislation to Reduce Recidivism and Cut Corrections Costs
Overall commitments to prison and probation declined 10 percent Statistic
Overall commitments to prison and probation for offenses affected by H.B. 1176 fell from 28,604 in 2012 to 25,784 in 2015, a 10 percent decline.
10%
Total commitments 2012 Statistic
Overall commitments to prison and probation for offenses affected by H.B. 1176 were 28,604 in 2012.
28,604 commitments
Total commitments 2015 Statistic
Overall commitments to prison and probation for offenses affected by H.B. 1176 were 25,784 in 2015.
25,784 commitments
Share of probation commitments rose 1 percentage point Statistic
The share of commitments to probation (relative to prison) increased slightly after H.B. 1176 took effect, rising 1 percentage point from 74 to 75 percent of commitments.
1%
Prison sentence length for burglary fell 6 percent Statistic
Between 2012 and 2016, prison sentence length for burglary fell 6 percent, from 11.0 to 10.4 years.
6%
Probation sentence length for burglary fell 9 percent Statistic
Probation sentences for burglary fell 9 percent, from 8.7 to 8.0 years between 2012 and 2016.
9%
Average probation sentence for drug possession fell 29 percent Statistic
The average probation sentence for drug possession fell 29 percent between 2012 and 2016 from 5.3 to 3.8 years.
29%
Average probation sentence for drug possession 2016 Statistic
The average probation sentence for drug possession was 3.8 years in 2016, down from 5.3 years in 2012.
3.8 years vs. 5.3 2012 average
Burglary commitments declined 10 percent Statistic
Between 2012 and 2015, total commitments to prison and probation for burglary fell from 8,136 to 7,323, a 10 percent decline.
10%
Total burglary commitments 2012 Statistic
Total commitments to prison and probation for burglary were 8,136 in 2012.
8,136 commitments
Total burglary commitments 2015 Statistic
Total commitments to prison and probation for burglary were 7,323 in 2015.
7,323 commitments
70 percent of classified prison burglary commitments were first-degree in 2015 Statistic
In 2015, 70 percent of classified prison burglary commitments were classified as first degree.
70%
67 percent of classified probation burglary commitments were first-degree in 2015 Statistic
In 2015, 67 percent of classified probation burglary commitments were classified as first degree.
67%
Mean prison sentence for first-degree burglary 2016 Statistic
In 2016, the mean prison sentence for first-degree burglary was 11.9 years.
11.9 years
Mean prison sentence for second-degree burglary 2016 Statistic
In 2016, the mean prison sentence for second-degree burglary was 9.3 years.
9.3 years
Mean probation sentence for first-degree burglary 2016 Statistic
In 2016, the mean probation sentence for first-degree burglary was 7.9 years.
7.9 years
Mean probation sentence for second-degree burglary 2016 Statistic
In 2016, the mean probation sentence for second-degree burglary was 5.8 years.
5.8 years
Annual prison commitments fell 17.4 percent 2010-2016 Statistic
Annual commitments to prison fell 17.4 percent between 2010 and 2016 (from 21,841 to 18,035).
17.4%
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- Report of the Georgia Council on Criminal Justice Reform (2017)
Prison commitments 2010 Statistic
Annual commitments to prison were 21,841 in 2010.
21,841 commitments
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- Report of the Georgia Council on Criminal Justice Reform (2017)
Prison commitments 2016 Statistic
Annual commitments to prison were 18,035 in 2016.
18,035 commitments
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- Report of the Georgia Council on Criminal Justice Reform (2017)
Share of prison population convicted of most serious offenses rose Statistic
The share of the prison population convicted of the most serious offenses rose from 58 percent in 2009 to 67 percent in 2017.
67% vs. 58 2009 share
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- Report of the Georgia Council on Criminal Justice Reform (2017)
Jail backlog fell 84 percent Statistic
The jail backlog has fallen 84 percent from a high of 5,338 in March 2009 to 818 in January 2016.
84%
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- Report of the Georgia Council on Criminal Justice Reform (2017)
Jail backlog high of 5,338 in March 2009 Statistic
The jail backlog reached a high of 5,338 in March 2009.
5,338 people
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- Report of the Georgia Council on Criminal Justice Reform (2017)
Jail backlog 818 in January 2016 Statistic
The jail backlog was 818 in January 2016.
818 people
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- Report of the Georgia Council on Criminal Justice Reform (2017)
Nearly 56,000 people incarcerated in Georgia prisons in 2011 Statistic
In 2011, nearly 56,000 people were incarcerated in Georgia's prison system.
56,000 people
Georgia had one of nation's highest incarceration rates Finding
Georgia had one of the nation's highest incarceration rates and was spending more than $1 billion each year on corrections in 2011.
H.B. 1176 signed into law May 2, 2012 Legal fact
House Bill 1176 was signed into law by Republican Governor Nathan Deal on May 2, 2012. The bill passed unanimously in both the House and Senate.
H.B. 1176 provisions implemented July 1, 2012 Legal fact
Provisions in the bill began to be implemented on July 1, 2012, the beginning of fiscal year 2013. Select provisions related to drug possession did not take effect immediately and were scheduled to be implemented in 2013 or 2014.
H.B. 1176 created two degrees of burglary Legal fact
H.B. 1176 created two degrees of burglary with different sentencing requirements based on severity. Second-degree burglary (nondwelling building) maximum sentence was decreased from 20 years to 5 years for first conviction and 8 years for second conviction.
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- House Bill 1176, 2011-12 Reg. Sess. (Ga. 2012)
H.B. 1176 raised felony theft threshold from $500 to $1,500 Legal fact
H.B. 1176 raised the felony theft threshold from $500 to $1,500 and created a graduated scale of penalties based on value of stolen items.
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- House Bill 1176, 2011-12 Reg. Sess. (Ga. 2012)
H.B. 1176 raised felony shoplifting threshold from $300 to $500 Legal fact
H.B. 1176 raised the felony shoplifting threshold from $300 to $500.
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- House Bill 1176, 2011-12 Reg. Sess. (Ga. 2012)
H.B. 1176 raised felony fraud threshold from $500 to $1,500 Legal fact
H.B. 1176 raised the felony fraud threshold from $500 to $1,500.
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- House Bill 1176, 2011-12 Reg. Sess. (Ga. 2012)
H.B. 1176 created graduated drug possession penalties Legal fact
H.B. 1176 created degrees of drug possession based on weight and a corresponding graduated scale of penalties, reduced the minimum and maximum sentence length for all drug weights, and removed drug possession from the recidivist statute.
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- House Bill 1176, 2011-12 Reg. Sess. (Ga. 2012)
H.B. 1176 created new degrees of forgery Legal fact
H.B. 1176 created new degrees of forgery based on seriousness of the offense and a corresponding graduated scale of penalties, allowed some forgeries (fourth degree) to be categorized as misdemeanors, and increased maximum sentence for the most serious forgeries.
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- House Bill 1176, 2011-12 Reg. Sess. (Ga. 2012)
H.B. 265 formed Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform Legal fact
In April 2011, H.B. 265 set reform efforts in motion by forming the Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform for Georgians, a group with bipartisan representation from all three branches of government, and the Joint Committee on Criminal Justice Reform.
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- 2012 Georgia Public Safety Reform: Legislation to Reduce Recidivism and Cut Corrections Costs
- Report of the Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform for Georgians (2011)
H.B. 242 addressed juvenile justice reform in 2013 Legal fact
In 2013, the state tackled juvenile justice reform through H.B. 242, which focused on reducing the number of youths, especially those charged with low-level offenses, housed in out-of-home facilities, instead diverting them to community-based alternative programs.
Georgia Prisoner Reentry Initiative created in 2014 Policy
In 2014, the state created the Georgia Prisoner Reentry Initiative to reduce recidivism among formerly incarcerated people.
H.B. 310 merged probation and parole into one state agency Legal fact
Georgia enacted legislative reforms including merging probation and parole into one state agency (H.B. 310).
H.B. 328 and Senate Bill 367 strengthened accountability courts Legal fact
Georgia enacted legislative reforms including strengthening the state's accountability courts (H.B. 328 and Senate Bill 367).
Senate Bill 174 probation reforms signed May 9, 2017 Legal fact
State officials anticipate that probation reforms included in Senate Bill 174, signed by the governor May 9, 2017, will further reduce time served on probation through behavioral incentive dates, which automatically trigger the end of some probation terms after three years.
Prison and probation commitments both declined in Georgia Finding
That prison and probation commitments both declined in Georgia is notable given the specific sentencing and classification changes made for these offense categories. Prison commitments fell, but so did probation commitments, suggesting that the effects of the reforms extended beyond shifting a certain number of would-be prison admissions to probation.
Declining commitments held in four of six offense categories Finding
The trend of declining commitments to both prison and probation held within four of the six offense categories analyzed. Between 2012 and 2015, there were fewer commitments to prison and probation for burglary, forgery, fraud, and theft. Shoplifting commitments to both prison and probation rose. Prison commitments for drug possession stayed fairly steady while probation commitments increased.
Sentence lengths declined after decade of growth Finding
Sentence lengths for people sentenced to prison and probation have declined after implementation of H.B. 1176. For most offense categories affected by the legislation, sentences have been getting shorter, on average, after more than a decade of consistent growth.
Largest sentence decreases among burglary and drug possession Finding
The largest decreases in sentence lengths were among burglary and drug possession, the offenses with the highest number of admissions each year.
Systemwide shift toward less punitive sentencing Finding
Sentence lengths became shorter for most offenses affected by H.B. 1176. Further, this changing landscape shortened probation sentences, indicating a systemwide shift toward less punitive sentencing for these offenses.
Length of stay in prison declined post-reform Finding
Preliminary analysis of exit trends for people in prison and on probation suggests people are serving less time in prison following H.B. 1176 implementation. Fewer people remained in prison after one, two, and three years for each postreform admission cohort compared with the 2012 (prereform) admission cohort.
Probation terms ended earlier post-reform Finding
Compared with the 2012 admission cohort, people beginning probation after H.B. 1176 implementation tended to have their terms end earlier. Of those who started probation terms after the reforms took effect (the 2013, 2014, and 2015 cohorts), a lower percentage were still on probation after one, two, and three years compared with those who began probation in 2012.
Many burglary commitments remained unclassified through 2015 Finding
Many burglary commitments remained unclassified through 2015, but the proportion of unclassified cases has declined steadily since implementation. Burglary commitments could be unclassified in 2015 for several reasons, including delays in case processing, probation revocation admissions retaining prereform offense codes, or delays in adopting the new classification policy.
Data limitations prevented causal conclusions Data gap
The ability to draw conclusions about causal factors motivating observed changes was limited because of data availability. Except for burglary, researchers could not distinguish among different degrees of offenses or observe trends specific to the newly created offense categories. The data contained no information on the weight or quantity of drugs, making it impossible to differentiate between degrees of drug possession commitments.
Could not classify commitments as felonies or misdemeanors Data gap
Researchers could not classify commitments as felonies or misdemeanors, so they could only observe the effects of shifting felony thresholds through indirect measures, such as total commitments, sentence length, and time served.
Could not link arrest data to commitments data Data gap
Researchers could not link arrest data to commitments data because there were no consistent coding systems or individual identifiers between these two datasets. This limited the ability to isolate sentencing reforms as the main driver of observed changes.
Shoplifting commitments may have risen due to charging practice changes Finding
One reason for the increase in shoplifting commitments may be a change in charging practices because of the reforms. The felony threshold for theft was raised to $1,500, but the shoplifting threshold only increased to $500. It is possible that the rise in shoplifting commitments resulted in part from cases being charged as shoplifting that previously would have been theft.
No evidence of split sentence time shift Finding
Researchers considered that declines in prison time served could reflect a rise in time spent on probation as opposed to prison as part of a split sentence. Their analysis did not reveal evidence of this phenomenon. The prison admission cohorts estimated to have split sentences who entered prison after H.B. 1176 implementation tended to end their entire term (prison plus probation) earlier, compared with prereform cohorts.
Revocation admissions contributed to unclassified burglary cases Finding
When revocations were eliminated from the analysis, the fraction of cases still unclassified in 2015 declined significantly, but was not eliminated. Offense codes carried over because of revocation admissions appear to have played a role, but other factors, such as the natural timing of case processing and delays in practice change, are likely to have affected burglary classification a few years after reform.
Fraud commitments small sample size Methodology note
The number of fraud commitments is small (between 2 and 12 per year). Dramatic changes in average sentence length in this category are likely because of this small n size.
Too few fraud cases for meaningful length of stay analysis Methodology note
There were too few fraud cases to conduct a meaningful analysis of length of stay trends.
Analysis used individual-level data on commitments and prison admissions Methodology note
The analysis used individual-level data on commitments and prison admissions in Georgia, provided by Applied Research Services Inc.
Justice Reinvestment Initiative jointly funded by Pew and BJA Policy
State leaders sought support for reform efforts through the Justice Reinvestment Initiative, a public-private partnership jointly funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Bureau of Justice Assistance at the US Department of Justice.
Pew and partners provided technical assistance Methodology note
Pew and its partners at Applied Research Services Inc. and the Crime and Justice Institute provided technical assistance to the Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform for Georgians.
Prison population growth driven by policy decisions Finding
The analysis determined that the large and growing prison population was a result of policy decisions about who was being sent to prison and for how long. Many people evaluated as 'low risk' were in prison, but alternatives to incarceration were scarce, and resources to supervise people on probation and parole were insufficient.
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- 2012 Georgia Public Safety Reform: Legislation to Reduce Recidivism and Cut Corrections Costs
State lacked comprehensive performance measurement system Data gap
The state lacked a comprehensive performance measurement system to evaluate criminal justice system outcomes.
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- 2012 Georgia Public Safety Reform: Legislation to Reduce Recidivism and Cut Corrections Costs
H.B. 1176 goals Policy
House Bill 1176 sought to improve the state's criminal justice system by revising felony thresholds and sentencing structures for drug and property crimes to focus prison space on the most serious offenses, strengthening probation and alternative sentencing options, relieving local jail crowding, and improving performance measurement systems.
Pre-H.B. 1176 burglary penalties Legal fact
Pre-H.B. 1176 burglary penalties: first conviction (any building) 1-20 years, probation eligible; second conviction (any building) 2-20 years, probation eligible; third conviction (any building) 5-20 years, not probation eligible.
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- House Bill 1176, 2011-12 Reg. Sess. (Ga. 2012)
Post-H.B. 1176 burglary penalties Legal fact
Post-H.B. 1176 burglary penalties: second degree (nondwelling building) first conviction 1-5 years, second+ conviction 1-8 years, probation eligible until 4th conviction; first degree (any building) first conviction 1-20 years, second+ conviction 2-20 years, third+ conviction 5-25 years, probation eligible until 4th conviction.
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- House Bill 1176, 2011-12 Reg. Sess. (Ga. 2012)
Pre-H.B. 1176 drug possession penalties Legal fact
Pre-H.B. 1176 drug possession penalties for Schedule I & II narcotics (any amount): first conviction 2-15 years, second+ conviction 5-30 years.
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- House Bill 1176, 2011-12 Reg. Sess. (Ga. 2012)
Post-H.B. 1176 drug possession penalties Legal fact
Post-H.B. 1176 drug possession penalties for Schedule I & II narcotics: less than 1 gram 1-3 years (third+ convictions max penalty doubled); 1-4 grams 1-8 years (third+ convictions max penalty doubled); 4+ grams 1-15 years (third+ convictions max penalty doubled).
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- House Bill 1176, 2011-12 Reg. Sess. (Ga. 2012)
Pre-H.B. 1176 theft penalties Legal fact
Pre-H.B. 1176 theft penalties: under $500 misdemeanor; $500+ 1-10 years or misdemeanor.
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- House Bill 1176, 2011-12 Reg. Sess. (Ga. 2012)
Post-H.B. 1176 theft penalties Legal fact
Post-H.B. 1176 theft penalties: $1,500 or less misdemeanor; $1,500-$5,000 1-5 years or misdemeanor; $5,000-$25,000 1-10 years or misdemeanor; $25,000+ 2-20 years.
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- House Bill 1176, 2011-12 Reg. Sess. (Ga. 2012)
Pre-H.B. 1176 shoplifting penalties Legal fact
Pre-H.B. 1176 shoplifting penalties: $300 or less misdemeanor; $300+ 1-10 years.
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- House Bill 1176, 2011-12 Reg. Sess. (Ga. 2012)
Post-H.B. 1176 shoplifting penalties Legal fact
Post-H.B. 1176 shoplifting penalties: under $100 misdemeanor, fine up to $500 and/or up to 1 year; $100-$300 misdemeanor, fine up to $1,000 and/or up to 1 year; $300-$500 high and aggravated misdemeanor; $500+ felony, fine $500-$5,000 and/or up to 3 years.
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- House Bill 1176, 2011-12 Reg. Sess. (Ga. 2012)
Pre-H.B. 1176 fraud penalties Legal fact
Pre-H.B. 1176 fraud penalties: $500 or less misdemeanor; $500+ 1-10 years.
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- House Bill 1176, 2011-12 Reg. Sess. (Ga. 2012)
Post-H.B. 1176 fraud penalties Legal fact
Post-H.B. 1176 fraud penalties: under $500 misdemeanor; $500-$1,000 misdemeanor, fine up to $500 and/or up to 1 year; $1,000-$1,500 misdemeanor, fine up to $1,000 and/or up to 1 year; $1,500+ high and aggravated misdemeanor or felony, fine $500-$5,000 and/or up to 3 years.
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- House Bill 1176, 2011-12 Reg. Sess. (Ga. 2012)
Pre-H.B. 1176 forgery penalties Legal fact
Pre-H.B. 1176 forgery penalties: first and second convictions misdemeanor; third+ convictions felony, 1-5 years.
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- House Bill 1176, 2011-12 Reg. Sess. (Ga. 2012)
Post-H.B. 1176 forgery penalties Legal fact
Post-H.B. 1176 forgery penalties: fourth degree 1-5 years; second or third degree 1-5 years; first degree 1-15 years.
Sources
- Assessing the Impact of Georgia's Sentencing Reforms: Justice Reinvestment Initiative
- House Bill 1176, 2011-12 Reg. Sess. (Ga. 2012)
Evidence of reduced incarceration for affected offenses Finding
Based on analysis of commitments, sentence lengths, and time served, there is evidence of reduced incarceration for offenses affected by H.B. 1176 reforms. After the bill's passage, the number of probation commitments declined, as did admissions to prison. Mean prison and probation sentence lengths also declined for most offenses, and initial trends indicate a decline in time served in prison and on probation.
H.B. 1176 one element of broader reform efforts Finding
House Bill 1176 was only one element of the state's efforts to reform its justice system through the Justice Reinvestment Initiative. The trends observed in Georgia occurred within a broader context of significant policy change.
Council on Criminal Justice Reform oversaw implementation Policy
The Council on Criminal Justice Reform has overseen implementation and made recommendations for new legislative priorities to tackle.
Georgia continuing criminal justice reform through legislation Finding
Georgia is continuing to pursue criminal justice reform through legislation that will likely contribute to changes in the metrics studied. Analyzing and tracking outcomes will be essential as the state works on these issues.
Sources
10 cited sources backing this research.
Primary
Official report
2012 Georgia Public Safety Reform: Legislation to Reduce Recidivism and Cut Corrections Costs
Primary
Official report
Primary
Official report
Assessing the Impact of South Dakota's Sentencing Reforms
Primary
Official report
Georgia H.B. 1176: Summary of Provisions from the Report of the Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform
Primary
Legislation
House Bill 1176, 2011-12 Reg. Sess. (Ga. 2012)
Primary
Official report
Justice Reinvestment Initiative State Assessment Report
Primary
Official report
Report of the Georgia Council on Criminal Justice Reform (2014)
Primary
Official report
Report of the Georgia Council on Criminal Justice Reform (2016)
Primary
Official report
Report of the Georgia Council on Criminal Justice Reform (2017)
Primary
Official report
Report of the Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform for Georgians (2011)
Key Entities
Organizations, people, facilities, and other named entities referenced in this research.
Applied Research Services Inc.
[organization]
Bryce Peterson
[person]
Bureau of Justice Assistance
[organization]
Crime and Justice Institute
[organization]
Elizabeth Pelletier
[person]
Georgia Council on Criminal Justice Reform
[organization]
Georgia Department of Corrections
[organization]
Georgia Prisoner Reentry Initiative
[program]
House Bill 1176
[legislation]
House Bill 242
[legislation]
House Bill 265
[legislation]
House Bill 310
[legislation]
House Bill 328
[legislation]
John Speir
[person]
Justice Reinvestment Initiative
[program]
Nathan Deal
[person]
Pew Charitable Trusts
[organization]
Ryan King
[person]
Senate Bill 174
[legislation]
Senate Bill 367
[legislation]
Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform for Georgians
[organization]
Urban Institute
[organization]