---
title: O.C.G.A. § 31-21-41. Trafficking in human bodies.
collection: code
id: 31-21-41
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 31-21-41 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-21-41
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-21-41.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-21-41/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t31-(v23)-2025-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=da7ded69_0#page=880
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/31-21.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-21-40.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-21-42.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Session of the General Assembly of Georgia
heading_path: HEALTH / DEAD BODIES / OFFENSES
---

# O.C.G.A. § 31-21-41. Trafficking in human bodies.

Any person who shall sell or buy any dead human body or bodies or in any way traffic therein or transmit or convey, or procure the transmission or conveyance of any dead human body or bodies to any place outside of this state for purposes of sale or dissection, shall be punished by imprisonment and labor in the penitentiary for not less than one nor more than ten years; provided, however, that the board for the distribution and delivery of dead bodies shall be empowered to make payments to next of kin as burial benefits amounts not exceeding those payable from time to time by the Social Security Administration.

## History

Ga. L. 1887, p. 87, § 6; Penal Code 1895, § 414; Penal Code 1910, § 407; Code 1933, § 88-9918; Code 1933, § 88-2709, enacted by Ga. L. 1964, p. 499, § 1; Ga. L. 1970, p. 589, § 1.

## Cross References

Funeral directors and establishments, embalmers, and crematories, § 43-18-1 et seq.

Georgia Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, § 44-5-140 et seq.