ATLANTA – State Representative Jimmy Pruett (R-Eastman) was honored with an award from the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office in appreciation for his sponsorship of House Bill 1104 on Thursday, June 24, 2010. This legislation, which goes into effect today, seeks to reduce burglaries throughout Georgia by creating the new legal offense of “smash and grab burglary.”
“I’m humbled to know that a bill that I introduced during this year’s legislative session is already helping communities, police, and prosecutors throughout the state,” said Rep. Pruett.
In further recognition of the importance of Rep. Pruett’s legislation, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and the Atlanta City Council gave Rep. Pruett an official proclamation naming Thursday, June 24, 2010, the date of the award ceremony, as “Had Enough Already Day.”
“Representative Pruett played a big roll in getting this legislation past,” said Mayor Reed. “I appreciate his commitment to protecting our businesses and helping put a stop to crime.”
HB 1104 was signed into law by Governor Sonny Perdue on Friday, June 4, 2010. The bill defines “smash and grab burglary” as a form of burglary that involves a person intentionally and without authority entering a retail establishment with the intent to commit theft and cause 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 offense. 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.
“Getting this legislation passed was a major milestone in helping us have stronger laws on the books in order to prosecute the real criminals who exploit juveniles by forcing them to perform burglaries,” said Paul L. Howard, Fulton County District Attorney. “Representative Jimmy Pruett is being presented with this award for his efforts in partnering with the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office and the Georgia Retail Association in order to reduce crime in Fulton County.”
The Atlanta City Council chose to name June 24, 2010, “Had Enough Already Day” in recognition of the website www.hadenoughalready.com. This website was created by the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office to provide burglary prevention information and solicit tips regarding burglaries. The Objectives of Had Enough Already include community, police, and prosecution-based action to reduce burglaries throughout the city of Atlanta and Fulton County.
A link to HB 1104 can be found by clicking here.
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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.