In Georgia, parole is a discretionary, multi-step process that allows for individuals to qualify for early release from their prison sentences depending upon whether they meet certain conditions and criteria set by the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles (the “Board”). The parole process is complex and requires inmates (and their loved ones) to…
Amid the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the Honorable Harold D. Melton, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, issued an Order Declaring Statewide Judicial Emergency pursuant to OCGA § 38-3-61 on March 14, 2020. That Order has been extended nine times in the ensuing months, most recently on December 23,…
In the State of Georgia, most cases concerning children who are 16 years of age and under are handled by the Juvenile Court system. That system was designed to balance sentencing options with the potential for successful rehabilitation. As a result, penalties in the Juvenile Court system often reflect the age of the child at…