---
title: O.C.G.A. § 16-5-42. False imprisonment under color of legal process.
collection: code
id: 16-5-42
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 16-5-42 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-5-42
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-5-42.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-5-42/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=922
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/16-5.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-5-41.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 / CRIMES AGAINST THE PERSON / KIDNAPPING, FALSE IMPRISONMENT, AND RELATED OFFENSES
extraction_warnings:
  - dehyphenation_unverified:oppres-sion
---

# O.C.G.A. § 16-5-42. False imprisonment under color of legal process.

When the arrest, confinement, or detention of a person by warrant, mandate, or process is manifestly illegal and shows malice and oppression, an officer issuing or knowingly and maliciously executing the same shall, upon conviction thereof, be removed from office and punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than ten years.

## History

Laws 1833, Cobb’s 1851 Digest, p. 788; Code 1863, § 4265; Code 1868, § 4300; Code 1873, § 4366; Code 1882, § 4366; Ga. L. 1895, p. 63, §§ 1, 2; Penal Code 1895, § 108; Penal Code 1910, § 108; Code 1933, § 26-1503; Code 1933, § 26-1309, enacted by Ga. L. 1968, p. 1249, § 1.

## Cross References

Civil action for false imprisonment, § 51-7-20 et seq.