---
title: O.C.G.A. § 42-7-2. Definitions.
collection: code
id: 42-7-2
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 42-7-2 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/42-7-2
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/42-7-2.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/42-7-2/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=376
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
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: PENAL INSTITUTIONS / TREATMENT OF YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 42-7-2. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the term:

(1) “Board” means the Board of Corrections.

(2) “Commissioner” means the commissioner of corrections.

(3) “Conviction” means a judgment on a verdict or finding of guilty, a plea of guilty, or a plea of nolo contendere in a felony case but excludes all judgments upon criminal offenses for which the maximum punishment provided by law is death or life imprisonment.

(4) “Court” means any court of competent jurisdiction other than a juvenile court.

(5) “Department” means the Department of Corrections.

(6) “Treatment” means corrective and preventative incarceration, guidance, and training designed to protect the public by correcting the antisocial tendencies of youthful offenders, which may include but is not limited to vocational, educational, and other training deemed fit and necessary by the department.

(7) “Youthful offender” means any male offender who is at least 17 but less than 25 years of age at the time of conviction and who in the opinion of the department has the potential and desire for rehabilitation.

## History

Ga. L. 1972, p. 592, § 2; Ga. L. 1973, p. 581, § 1; Ga. L. 1975, p. 900, § 1; Ga. L. 1985, p. 420, § 1.

## Code Commission Notes

Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 1985, following the passage of Ga. L. 1985, p. 420, “Corrections” was substituted for “Offender Rehabilitation” and “corrections” was substituted for “offender rehabilitation”.