---
title: O.C.G.A. § 42-9-40. Parole guidelines system.
collection: code
id: 42-9-40
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 42-9-40 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/42-9-40
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/42-9-40.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/42-9-40/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=584
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/42-9.md
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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 / PARDONS AND PAROLES / GRANTS OF PARDONS, PAROLES, AND OTHER RELIEF
---

# O.C.G.A. § 42-9-40. Parole guidelines system.

(a) The board shall adopt, implement, and maintain a parole guidelines system for determining parole action. The guidelines system shall be used in determining parole actions on all inmates, except those serving life sentences, who will become statutorily eligible for parole consideration. The system shall be consistent with the board’s primary goal of protecting society and shall take into consideration the severity of the current offense, the inmate’s prior criminal history, the inmate’s conduct, and the social factors which the board has found to have value in predicting the probability of further criminal behavior and successful adjustment under parole supervision.

(b) The guidelines system required by subsection (a) of this Code section shall be adopted by rules or regulations of the board. The rules or regulations shall be adopted in conformity with Chapter 13 of Title 50, the “Georgia Administrative Procedure Act.”

## History

Ga. L. 1980, p. 404, § 1.

## Law Reviews

For article critically analyzing the adoption of determinate-based sentencing, see 17 Ga. L. Rev. 425 (1983).

## Administrative Rules and Regulations

Duties of the Board, Official Compilation of the Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, Rules of State Board of Pardons and Paroles, Duties of the Board, Rule 475-2-.01.

Parole Consideration, Official Compilation of the Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, Rules of State Board of Pardons and Paroles, Rules, Rule 475-3-.05.

Time-Served Requirements for Parole Consideration, Official Compilation of the Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, Rules of State Board of Pardons and Paroles, Rules, Rule 475-3-.06.