---
title: O.C.G.A. § 17-4-1. Actions constituting an arrest.
collection: code
id: 17-4-1
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 17-4-1 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-4-1
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-4-1.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-4-1/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=88
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/17-4.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-3-3.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-4-2.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 / ARREST OF PERSONS / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 17-4-1. Actions constituting an arrest.

An actual touching of a person with a hand is not essential to constitute a valid arrest. If the person voluntarily submits to being considered under arrest or yields on condition of being allowed his freedom of locomotion, under the discretion of the officer, the arrest is complete.

## History

Orig. Code 1863, § 4609; Code 1968, § 4631; Code 1873, § 4728; Code 1882, § 4728; Penal Code 1895, § 893; Penal Code 1910, § 914; Code 1933, § 27-201.

## Law Reviews

For survey article on criminal law, see 59 Mercer L. Rev. 89 (2007).