---
title: O.C.G.A. § 17-10-60. ‘‘Mentally incompetent to be executed’’ defined.
collection: code
id: 17-10-60
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 17-10-60 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-10-60
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-10-60.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-10-60/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t17-(v15)-2020-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=8c04ccfe_0#page=1271
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/17-10.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-10-44.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-10-61.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: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE / SENTENCE AND PUNISHMENT / MENTALLY INCOMPETENT TO BE EXECUTED
---

# O.C.G.A. § 17-10-60. ‘‘Mentally incompetent to be executed’’ defined.

As used in this article, the term ‘‘mentally incompetent to be executed’’ means that because of a mental condition the person is presently unable to know why he or she is being punished and understand the nature of the punishment.

## History

Code 1981, § 17-10-60, enacted by Ga. L. 1988, p. 1003, § 2.

## Law Reviews

For note, ‘‘Uncertain Waters: Tennard v. Dretke Provides Swells of Protection for the Mentally Deficient But May Cause Rising Tides of Frivolous Claims,’’ see 56 Mercer L. Rev. 1483 (2005).