---
title: O.C.G.A. § 16-5-72. Reckless abandonment.
collection: code
id: 16-5-72
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 16-5-72 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-5-72
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-5-72.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-5-72/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=1002
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/16-5-71.1.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-5-73.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 / CRIMES AGAINST THE PERSON / CRUELTY TO CHILDREN
---

# O.C.G.A. § 16-5-72. Reckless abandonment.

(a) A parent, guardian, or other person supervising the welfare of or having immediate charge or custody of a child under the age of one year commits the offense of reckless abandonment of a child when the person willfully and voluntarily physically abandons such child with the intention of severing all parental or custodial duties and responsibilities to such child and leaving such child in a condition which results in the death of said child.

(b) Any person who violates subsection (a) of this Code section shall be guilty of a felony and shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by imprisonment for not less than ten nor more than 25 years.

## History

Code 1981, § 16-5-72, enacted by Ga. L. 1989, p. 1605, § 1.

## Law Reviews

For note on 1989 enactment of this Code section, see 6 Ga. St. U. L. Rev. 209 (1989).