---
title: O.C.G.A. § 16-1-9. Application of title to crimes committed prior to enactment.
collection: code
id: 16-1-9
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 16-1-9 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-1-9
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-1-9.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-1-9/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=133
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
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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
---

# O.C.G.A. § 16-1-9. Application of title to crimes committed prior to enactment.

This title shall govern the construction and punishment of any crime defined in this title committed on and after July 1, 1969, as well as the construction and application of any defense. This title does not apply to or govern the construction or punishment of any crime committed prior to July 1, 1969, or the construction or application of any defense. Such a crime must be construed and punished according to the law existing at the time of the commission thereof in the same manner as if this title had not been enacted.

## History

Laws 1833, Cobb’s 1851 Digest, p. 838; Code 1863, § 4550; Code 1868, § 4570; Code 1873, § 4664; Code 1882, § 4664; Penal Code 1895, § 18; Penal Code 1910, § 18; Code 1933, § 26-103; Code 1933, § 26-103, enacted by Ga. L. 1968, p. 1249, § 1.