---
title: O.C.G.A. § 42-8-29. Presentence investigations; supervision of probationers; maintenance of records relating to probationers.
collection: code
id: 42-8-29
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 42-8-29 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/42-8-29
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/42-8-29.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/42-8-29/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=395
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/42-8.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/42-8-28.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/42-8-29.1.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: PENAL INSTITUTIONS / PROBATION / STATE-WIDE PROBATION SYSTEM
---

# O.C.G.A. § 42-8-29. Presentence investigations; supervision of probationers; maintenance of records relating to probationers.

(a) It shall be the duty of each officer to investigate all cases referred to him or her by the court and to make findings and report thereon in writing to the court with a recommendation. The superior court may require, before imposition of sentence, a presentence investigation and written report in each felony case in which the defendant has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere or has been convicted.

(b) An officer shall cause to be delivered to each person placed on probation under his or her supervision a copy of the terms of probation and any change or modification thereof and shall cause the person to be instructed regarding the same. An officer shall keep informed concerning the conduct, habits, associates, employment, recreation, and whereabouts of the probationer or parolee by visits, by requiring reports, or in other ways. An officer shall use all practicable and proper methods to aid and encourage persons on probation or parole and to bring about improvements in their conduct and condition.

## History

Ga. L. 1956, p. 27, § 9; Ga. L. 1972, p. 604, § 8; Ga. L. 2015, p. 422, § 4-1/HB 310.

## Cross References

Applicability of this state’s correction laws to probationers’ found in other states, T. 42, C. 11.

## Code Commission Notes

Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 2015, “the” was deleted following “It shall be the duty of” at the beginning of subsection (a).

## 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 article, “A Review of Georgia’s Probation Laws,” see 6 Ga. St. B.J. 255 (1970).

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