---
title: O.C.G.A. § 17-16-1. Definitions.
collection: code
id: 17-16-1
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 17-16-1 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-16-1
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-16-1.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-16-1/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=1438
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.
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version: the only printed version
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heading_path: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE / DISCOVERY / DEFINITIONS; FELONY CASES
---

# O.C.G.A. § 17-16-1. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the term:

(1) ‘‘Possession, custody, or control of the state or prosecution’’ means an item which is within the possession, custody, or control of the prosecuting attorney or any law enforcement agency involved in the investigation of the case being prosecuted.

(2) ‘‘Statement of a witness’’ means:

(A) A written or recorded statement, or copies thereof, made by the witness that is signed or otherwise adopted or approved by the witness;

(B) A substantially verbatim recital of an oral statement made by the witness that is recorded contemporaneously with the making of the oral statement and is contained in a stenographic, mechanical, electrical, or other recording or a transcription thereof; or

(C) A summary of the substance of a statement made by a witness contained in a memorandum, report, or other type of written document but does not include notes or summaries made by counsel.

(3) ‘‘Witness’’ does not include the defendant.

## History

Code 1981, § 17-16-1, enacted by Ga. L. 1994, p. 1895, § 4; Ga. L. 1995, p. 1250, § 2.

## Law Reviews

For article, ‘‘Criminal Law,’’ see 53 Mercer L. Rev. 209 (2001). For article, ‘‘Death Penalty Law,’’ see 53 Mercer L. Rev. 233 (2001). For survey article on criminal law, see 59 Mercer L. Rev. 89 (2007). For survey article on death penalty law, see 60 Mercer L. Rev. 105 (2008).