Georgia Code
Article 2 - Justification and Excuse
§ 16-3-21. Use of Force in Defense of Self or Others; Evidence of Belief That Force Was Necessary in Murder or Manslaughter Prosecution

History. Laws 1833, Cobb’s 1851 Digest, p. 785.; Code 1863, § 4230; Code 1868, § 4267; Code 1873, § 4333; Code 1882, § 4333; Penal Code 1895, § 73; Penal Code 1910, § 73; Code 1933, § 26-1014; Code 1933, § 26-902, enacted by Ga. L. 1968, p. 1249, § 1; Ga. L. 1975, p. 1209, § 1; Ga. L. 1993, p. 1716, § 2; Ga. L. 2001, p. 1247, § 1.
Law reviews.
For survey article on evidence, see 34 Mercer L. Rev. 163 (1982).
For survey article on criminal law, see 60 Mercer L. Rev. 85 (2008).
For article with annual survey on criminal law, see 73 Mercer L. Rev. 75 (2021).
For note on admissibility of expert psychological testimony in Georgia, see 4 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 117 (1988).
For note on 1993 amendment of this Code section, see 10 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 131 (1993).
For note, “Smith v. State: The Georgia Supreme Court Mandated Jury Instructions in Battered Person Syndrome Cases,” see 49 Mercer L. Rev. 1141 (1998).
For note, “Open Season on Batterers in Georgia? Georgia Supreme Court Allows Jury Instructions on Battered Person Syndrome in Self-Defense Cases: Smith v. State (1997),” see 15 Ga. St. U. L. Rev. 821 (1999).
For note on the 2001 amendment of this Code section, see 18 Ga. St. U. L. Rev. 25 (2001).
For comment discussing the unconstitutional use of deadly force against nonviolent fleeing felons, see 18 Ga. L. Rev. 137 (1983).

Structure Georgia Code