HB526: Criminal procedure; arrest of certain offenders by private citizens; provisions

Legislative Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 4 of Chapter 4 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to arrests by private persons, so as to provide for definitions to revise the law with regard to the arrest of certain offenders by private citizens; to provide when and to what degree force may be used to effectuate such arrest; to provide that unauthorized arrests may be resisted and to provide when and to what degree force may be used to resist an unauthorized arrest by a private citizen; to provide that the defense of justification shall be available to a person who attempts to arrest someone when such person is not authorized under the law to make such arrest; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.