ATLANTA – House Bill 1104, legislation introduced by State Representative Jimmy Pruett (R-Eastman) to improve Georgia’s youth detention system, was signed into law by Governor Sonny Perdue on Friday, June 4, 2010. This legislation includes built in efficiencies that are expected to save Georgia taxpayers approximately $7 million dollars per year.
“HB 1104 creates a more fair and efficient juvenile justice system in Georgia and gives our state the tools it needs to ensure that adolescent misbehavior does not mature into dangerous adult crime,” said Representative Pruett. “In these tough economic times, we have to create efficiencies and cost savings in all possible areas. This bill does that while improving our state’s juvenile justice system.”
HB 1104 changes the sunset p
rovision for the number of days a minor may serve in a short term placement program from 60 days to 30 days. It also allows juveniles to receive credit for time served in juvenile detention pre-adjudication, an option already available to adults but previously unavailable to minors.
Additionally, HB 1104 creates the new legal offense of “smash and grab burglary.” As defined in the bill, this new form of burglary is committed when a person intentionally and without authority enters a retail establishment with the intent to commit a theft and causes damage in excess of $500.00 to such establishment without the owner’s consent. For juveniles, this new crime is a designated felony, subjecting convicted minors to the possibility of up to 60 months in custody for the first offenses. For adults, the new smash and grab burglary offense increases the minimum penalties for these types of crimes from just one year for the first offense to a minimum of two to twenty years for the first offense. It further sets a minimum of five to twenty years for the second offense.
HB 1104 also allows law enforcement to arrest and prosecute adults who exploit juveniles by forcing them to perform smash and grab burglaries. Adults suspected of using juveniles to commit these crimes will now be charged with a felony offense. Prior to this legislation, adults using juveniles could only be charged with misdemeanors.
A link to HB 1104 can be found by clicking here.
Editor’s Note: A photo of the June 4th signing of HB 1104 is attached to this press release for your convenience.
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Representative Jimmy Pruett represents the citizens of District 144, which includes Bleckley, Dodge, and Wilcox Counties and portions of Ben Hill and Pulaski Counties. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2006, and serves as one of Governor Perdue’s Floor Leaders. He currently serves on the Appropriations, Children & Youth, Economic Development & Tourism, and Industrial Relations Committees. He can be reached at Jimmy.Pruett@house.ga.gov or 404-651-7737.