---
title: O.C.G.A. § 16-3-20. Justification.
collection: code
id: 16-3-20
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 16-3-20 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-3-20
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-3-20.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-3-20/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=265
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/16-3.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 / DEFENSES TO CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS / JUSTIFICATION AND EXCUSE
---

# O.C.G.A. § 16-3-20. Justification.

The fact that a person’s conduct is justified is a defense to prosecution for any crime based on that conduct. The defense of justification can be claimed:

(1) When the person’s conduct is justified under Code Section 16-3-21, 16-3-23, 16-3-24, 16-3-25, or 16-3-26;

(2) When the person’s conduct is in reasonable fulfillment of his duties as a government officer or employee;

(3) When the person’s conduct is the reasonable discipline of a minor by his parent or a person in loco parentis;

(4) When the person’s conduct is reasonable and is performed in the course of making a lawful arrest;

(5) When the person’s conduct is justified for any other reason under the laws of this state, including as provided in Code Section 51-1-29; or

(6) In all other instances which stand upon the same footing of reason and justice as those enumerated in this article.

## History

Code 1933, § 26-901, enacted by Ga. L. 1968, p. 1249, § 1; Ga. L. 1999, p. 81, § 16; Ga. L. 2015, p. 598, § 2-2/HB 72.

## Law Reviews

For survey article on criminal law, see 60 Mercer L. Rev. 85 (2008). For article on the 2015 amendment of this Code section, see 32 Ga. St. U. L. Rev. 63 (2015).