---
title: O.C.G.A. § 42-4-50. Definitions.
collection: code
id: 42-4-50
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 42-4-50 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/42-4-50
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/42-4-50.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/42-4-50/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t41-t42-(v29a)-2023-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=4afea80d_0#page=242
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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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: PENAL INSTITUTIONS / JAILS / MEDICAL SERVICES FOR INMATES
---

# O.C.G.A. § 42-4-50. Definitions.

As used in this article, the term:

(1) “Detention facility” means a municipal or county jail used for the detention of persons charged with or convicted of either a felony, a misdemeanor, or a municipal offense.

(2) “Governing authority” means the governing authority of the county or municipality in which the detention facility is located.

(3) “Inmate” means a person who is detained in a detention facility by reason of being charged with or convicted of a felony, a misdemeanor, or a municipal offense. Such term does not include any sentenced inmate who is the responsibility of the Department of Corrections.

(4) “Medical care” includes medical attention, dental care, and medicine and necessary and associated costs such as transportation, guards, room, and board.

(5) “Officer in charge” means the sheriff, if the detention facility is under his or her supervision, or the warden, captain, or superintendent having the supervision of any other detention facility.

## History

Code 1981, § 42-4-50, enacted by Ga. L. 1992, p. 2125, § 2; Ga. L. 1995, p. 1059, § 1; Ga. L. 1996, p. 1081, § 1; Ga. L. 1996, p. 1264, § 1; Ga. L. 2015, p. 422, § 5-70/HB 310.

## Editor's Notes

Ga. L. 2015, p. 422, § 6-1/HB 310, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that: “This Act shall become effective July 1, 2015, and shall apply to sentences entered on or after such date.”

## Law Reviews

For note on 1992 enactment of this Code section, see 9 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 310 (1992).

For review of 1996 legislation relating to jails, see 13 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 269 and 273 (1996).

For article on the 2015 amendment of this Code section, see 32 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 231 (2015).