CRIMINAL PROCEDURE Bonds and Recognizances: Provide for Increased Bail and for Filing of Separate Police Reports for Incidents of Family Violence

HB 448 provides for increased bail when an offense involves an act of family violence. If the offense involves serious injury and the arresting officer believes further violence is possible, it is bailable only before a judicial officer. HB 449 provides that a separate report shall be filed whenever a law enforcement officer responds to an incident involving family violence, and outlines the required contents of that report. The Act also provides that the officer shall not base the decision to arrest on the consent or request of the victim and provides guidelines for determining who was the primary physical aggressor. Police departments are required to report all family violence incidents to the Georgia Crime Information Center whether or not an arrest is made