We are thrilled that the Georgia Survivor Justice Act is now law. Governor Kemp signed HB 582 in May 2025, marking a new era in our state where the legal system is better equipped to protect survivors from being punished for actions taken to survive. We are deeply grateful for the powerful advocacy and collective effort that made this moment possible, especially through the leadership and partnership of the Survivor Justice Initiative and our broader community of supporters.

 

The Survivor Justice Initiative played a critical role in advancing HB 582, which updates Georgia’s criminal code and sentencing statutes to ensure that the full context of survivors’ experiences can be considered at both trial and sentencing. Before this law, Georgia’s self-defense statute had not been updated since 1993, and the coercion statute since 1968. This historic progress was made possible through the unwavering commitment of community members and partners, including the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence (GCADV), the Georgia Commission on Family Violence, the Georgia Justice Project (GJP), Igniting Hope Georgia, and the YWCA of Greater Atlanta through the Georgia Women’s Policy Institute.