---
title: O.C.G.A. § 17-16-23. Right of defendant to copies of written scientific reports; failure to comply.
collection: code
id: 17-16-23
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 17-16-23 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-16-23
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-16-23.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-16-23/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=1539
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/17-16.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-16-22.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-17-1.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 / DISCOVERY / MISDEMEANOR CASES
---

# O.C.G.A. § 17-16-23. Right of defendant to copies of written scientific reports; failure to comply.

(a) As used in this Code section, the term ‘‘written scientific reports’’ includes, but is not limited to, reports from the Division of Forensic Sciences of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation; an autopsy report by the coroner of a county or by a private pathologist; blood alcohol test results done by a law enforcement agency or a private physician; and similar types of reports that would be used as scientific evidence by the prosecution in its case-in-chief or in rebuttal against the defendant.

(b) In all criminal trials the defendant shall be entitled to have a complete copy of any written scientific reports in the possession of the prosecution which will be introduced in whole or in part against the defendant by the prosecution in its case-in-chief or in rebuttal. The request for a copy of any written scientific reports shall be made by the defendant in writing at arraignment or within any reasonable time prior to trial. If such written request is not made at arraignment, it shall be within the sound discretion of the trial judge to determine in each case what constitutes a reasonable time prior to trial. If the scientific report is in the possession of or available to the prosecuting attorney, the prosecuting attorney must comply with this Code section at least ten days prior to the trial of the case.

(c) Failure by the prosecution to furnish the defendant with a copy of any written scientific report, when a proper and timely written demand has been made by the defendant, shall result in such report being excluded and suppressed from evidence in the prosecution’s case-in-chief or in rebuttal.

## History

Code 1981, § 17-16-23, enacted by Ga. L. 1994, p. 1895, § 4.