---
title: O.C.G.A. § 16-1-2. Purposes of title.
collection: code
id: 16-1-2
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 16-1-2 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-1-2
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-1-2.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-1-2/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t16-ch1-6-(v14)-2019-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=af47a366_0#page=4
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-1.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-1-1.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-1-3.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CRIMES AND OFFENSES / GENERAL PROVISIONS
extraction_warnings:
  - dehyphenation_unverified:inexcus-ably
---

# O.C.G.A. § 16-1-2. Purposes of title.

The general purposes of this title are:

(1) To forbid and prevent conduct which unjustifiably and inexcusably causes or threatens substantial harm to individual or public interests;

(2) To give fair warning of the nature of the conduct forbidden and the sentence authorized upon conviction;

(3) To define that which constitutes each crime; and

(4) To prescribe penalties which are proportionate to the seriousness of crimes and which permit recognition of differences in rehabilitation possibilities among individual criminals.

## History

Code 1933, § 26-102, enacted by Ga. L. 1968, p. 1249, § 1.