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Georgia Violent Crime Defense Attorneys

Georgia Violent Crime Lawyers

We Don't Back Down.

A violent-crime charge is one of the most serious accusations the State of Georgia can bring — and many carry mandatory-minimum sentences with no parole. But an accusation is not a conviction. You are presumed innocent, you have the right to defend yourself, and Morrison & Hughes will hold the State to every element it must prove beyond a reasonable doubt.

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100% confidential consultation
Trial-tested felony defense
Available 24/7 after an arrest
0%
GA Violent Crime Decline
2023→2024 drop (FBI UCR / Crime Data Explorer)
0
Georgia Homicides, 2024
FBI 2024 reported crime data for Georgia
0yr
Mandatory Minimum (min.)
Serious violent felonies, O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.1
16min
Between GA Violent Crimes
FBI 2024 data — one roughly every 16 minutes
Aggressive Trial Defense, Statewide

When the Stakes Are This High, the Defense Must Be Relentless.

Violent-crime cases — aggravated assault, armed robbery, kidnapping, and homicide — are prosecuted with everything the State has: detectives, crime labs, victim-witness advocates, and prosecutors who specialize in winning convictions. Because Georgia's "serious violent felony" statute carries mandatory minimums of 10 to 25 years with no parole, the difference between the right defense and the wrong one can be measured in decades.

Morrison & Hughes defends people accused of violent crimes throughout Georgia. We investigate independently, attack the forensics, test the witnesses, and assert every defense the law allows — including your right to defend yourself under Georgia's Stand Your Ground law. We prepare every case as if it will be tried before a jury, because that is how violent-crime charges get reduced, suppressed, and dismissed.

Every conversation is confidential and protected by the attorney-client privilege. There is no judgment here — only a defense team that does not back down.

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Criminal defense attorney preparing a violent-crime case file in a Georgia law office
Violent Charges We Defend

Georgia Violent Crime Charges We Handle

From a bar fight charged as aggravated assault to an armed-robbery or homicide allegation carrying life, Morrison & Hughes builds an aggressive, individualized defense. Select a charge to learn how Georgia law applies and how we fight back.

O.C.G.A. § 16-5-21

Aggravated Assault & Battery

Aggravated assault — assault with a deadly weapon or intent to rob, rape, or murder — is a felony punishable by 1 to 20 years. Self-defense, mistaken identity, and overcharging are common, and we separate a fight from a felony.

Assault Defense → O.C.G.A. § 16-8-41

Armed Robbery

Taking property by use of an offensive weapon is a "serious violent felony" carrying a mandatory minimum of 10 years up to life — with no parole on the mandatory portion under § 17-10-6.1. We challenge identification, intent, and the weapon element.

How we defend it → O.C.G.A. § 16-5-40

Kidnapping

Kidnapping requires an unlawful "asportation" — movement of the victim. It is a serious violent felony with a 10-year minimum (25 years if the victim is under 14). We attack whether any movement was more than incidental to another offense.

How we defend it → O.C.G.A. § 16-5-1

Homicide & Murder

Murder, felony murder, and vehicular homicide carry life sentences — and murder has no statute of limitations. The defense must be flawless: alibi, self-defense, lesser-included offenses, and rigorous forensic challenge.

Homicide Defense → O.C.G.A. § 16-11-106

Gun & Weapon Offenses

Possession of a firearm during a crime adds a consecutive five-year sentence, and possession by a prohibited person is its own felony. Weapon enhancements can transform a case — we fight them at every turn.

Weapons Defense → O.C.G.A. §§ 16-6-1, 17-10-6.1

Rape & Violent Sexual Offenses

Rape, aggravated sodomy, aggravated child molestation, and aggravated sexual battery are serious violent felonies with minimums of 10 to 25 years and lifetime registration. These allegations demand a discreet, forensic defense.

Sex Crime Defense →
Know What You're Facing

The "Serious Violent Felonies" & Their Mandatory Minimums

Georgia singles out seven offenses as "serious violent felonies" under O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.1 — sometimes called the "seven deadly sins." A conviction for any of them carries a mandatory minimum prison term that cannot be probated, suspended, or reduced by parole, earned time, or early release. Understanding which bucket your charge falls into changes everything.

10-Year Mandatory Minimum

No Parole on the Minimum

  • Armed robbery (O.C.G.A. § 16-8-41).
  • Kidnapping of a victim 14 or older (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-40).
  • Voluntary manslaughter in certain cases and other listed offenses.
  • Minimum 10 years up to life — and no part of the minimum can be suspended, probated, or paroled.

10 yrs to life · No parole on the minimum

25-Year Mandatory Minimum

Plus Lifetime Probation

  • Rape (O.C.G.A. § 16-6-1).
  • Aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy, aggravated sexual battery.
  • Kidnapping where the victim is younger than 14.
  • Minimum 25 years in prison followed by probation for life, served day-for-day.

25 yrs · then probation for life

Murder

Life, LWOP, or Death

  • Murder and felony murder carry life imprisonment, life without parole, or the death penalty (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-1).
  • There is no statute of limitations for murder — the State can charge it at any time.
  • Parole eligibility on a life murder sentence does not begin for 30 years.
  • The defense must be airtight at every stage.

Life to death · No time limit to charge

Recidivist Enhancement

"Two Strikes" & "Three Strikes"

  • A second serious violent felony triggers life without parole (O.C.G.A. § 17-10-7(b)) — the "two strikes" rule.
  • A fourth felony of any kind requires the maximum sentence with no parole — the "three strikes / four-time felon" rule.
  • The State must give pre-trial notice to seek recidivist punishment.
  • Prior-conviction challenges and notice defects matter enormously here.

2nd strike = LWOP · prior records are fightable

The Numbers Behind the Charges

Georgia Violent Crime Statistics

Violent crime in Georgia — and nationally — declined in 2024, but prosecutions remain aggressive and sentences severe. The data below, drawn from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program and Crime Data Explorer, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and Georgia's sentencing statutes, shows the landscape an accused person actually faces.

U.S. Violent Crime Rate

Offenses per 100,000 inhabitants
Source: FBI UCR / Crime Data Explorer — national violent-crime rate fell from 379.5 (2023) to 359.1 (2024) per 100,000.

Mandatory Minimums by Offense

Serious violent felonies (years, no parole on minimum)
Source: O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.1 — armed robbery & kidnapping (14+) min. 10 yrs; rape, agg. sodomy/child molestation/sexual battery min. 25 yrs.

Georgia Violent Crime, Year Over Year

Reported homicides & overall trend
Source: FBI 2024 reported crime data — Georgia homicides ~706 in 2024 (down ~5.1%); overall violent crime down ~10.5% from 2023.

Sentence Exposure by Charge

Statutory maximum prison term (years)
Source: O.C.G.A. §§ 16-5-21 (agg. assault, to 20 yrs), 16-8-41 (armed robbery, to life), 16-5-40 (kidnapping, to life), 16-5-1 (murder, life/LWOP/death).
Know the Statutes

Georgia Violent Crime Law: What You Need to Know

Understanding how Georgia defines each offense, how its mandatory-minimum and recidivist statutes work, and — critically — how Georgia's self-defense and Stand Your Ground laws protect you can change the entire course of a case. Here are the statutes that matter most.

O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.1

Serious Violent Felonies & Mandatory Minimums

The "seven deadly sins" — murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy, and aggravated sexual battery — carry mandatory minimums of 10 to 25 years. No portion of the minimum may be suspended, probated, or reduced by parole or earned time.

O.C.G.A. § 16-5-21

Aggravated Assault

Assault with a deadly weapon, or with intent to murder, rape, or rob, is a felony punishable by 1 to 20 years. Enhanced minimums apply for victims who are peace officers, age 65+, or in family-violence cases. The State must prove the aggravating element — which is often where the case breaks down.

O.C.G.A. § 16-8-41

Armed Robbery

Taking property from another by use of an offensive weapon (or replica) is punishable by death, life, or 10 to 20 years, with a 10-year mandatory minimum as a serious violent felony. Identification, intent, and whether a weapon was actually used or implied are all contestable.

O.C.G.A. § 16-5-40

Kidnapping

Kidnapping requires unlawful "asportation" — moving the victim against their will. After Garza v. State, even slight movement must be more than merely incidental to another crime. Penalties range from 10 to 20 years to life, with a 25-year minimum if the victim is under 14.

O.C.G.A. § 17-10-7

Recidivist "Two/Three Strikes"

A second serious violent felony means life without parole; a fourth felony of any kind means the maximum sentence served with no parole. The State must give pre-trial notice and prove each qualifying prior — and defective notice or invalid priors can defeat the enhancement.

O.C.G.A. §§ 16-3-21 & 16-3-23.1

Self-Defense & Stand Your Ground

You are justified in using force — including deadly force — when you reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent death, great bodily harm, or a forcible felony. Georgia imposes no duty to retreat (§ 16-3-23.1). Self-defense is a complete justification, not an excuse.

O.C.G.A. § 16-3-24.2

Immunity From Prosecution

A person who used justified force is immune from criminal prosecution. The defense can file a pre-trial immunity motion; if the judge finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the force was justified, the case is dismissed before any trial (State v. Sutton, 297 Ga. 222).

O.C.G.A. § 17-3-1

Statute of Limitations

Murder has no time limit. Most other felonies must be charged within 4 years (7 years for victims under 18), crimes punishable by death or life within 7 years, and forcible rape within 15 years. Timing and tolling should always be reviewed by an attorney.

How We Fight

Our Defenses in Violent-Crime Cases

We don't wait to see what the State does. From day one we investigate, challenge, and build leverage — because in cases where decades of liberty are on the line, the best outcomes come from preparation, not hope.

Self-Defense & Justification

Georgia law gives you the right to protect yourself, others, and your home — with no duty to retreat. When the force was justified, we pursue dismissal through a pre-trial immunity motion (O.C.G.A. § 16-3-24.2) and present a complete justification defense at trial.

Mistaken Identity

Eyewitness misidentification is a leading cause of wrongful convictions. We scrutinize lineups, show-ups, and cross-racial identifications, retain identification experts, and test the conditions under which witnesses claim they saw what happened.

Witness Credibility

Many violent-crime cases turn on a single accuser. We investigate motive, bias, prior inconsistent statements, and criminal history, and we cross-examine relentlessly — because a reasonable doubt about one witness can be a reasonable doubt about the whole case.

Forensic & DNA Challenges

Crime labs make mistakes. We demand the underlying data behind DNA, ballistics, gunshot-residue, and digital evidence, audit chain-of-custody, and retain independent experts to expose contamination, error, and overstated conclusions.

Attack the Stop, Search & Statement

Evidence and confessions obtained in violation of the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments can be suppressed. We move to exclude illegal searches, Miranda violations, and coerced statements — and a suppressed case is often a dismissed case.

Try the Case When We Must

Prosecutors offer better resolutions to defendants who are genuinely ready for trial. We prepare every violent-crime case for a jury and make the State prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt to twelve people — and we do not back down.

Confidential Case Review

Request a Confidential Case Review

Tell us what you're facing. Your message goes straight to our defense team and is protected and confidential. A Morrison & Hughes attorney will reach out promptly — no judgment, no obligation. If your situation is urgent, call 404-LAW-TEAM now, and until you speak with us, exercise your right to remain silent.

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Need to talk now? Call 404-LAW-TEAM — we're available 24/7 after an arrest. Until you speak with us, exercise your right to remain silent.
Your First 24 Hours

What to Do If You're Accused of a Violent Crime

What you do — and don't do — in the hours after a violent-crime arrest can decide your case. The State starts building against you immediately, and in self-defense cases the early facts are everything. Protect yourself.

1. Stay Silent

You have the right to remain silent — use it. Even a self-defense explanation can be twisted. Politely state that you will not answer questions without a lawyer, and then stop talking.

2. Ask for a Lawyer

Clearly say, "I want a lawyer." Once you do, questioning must stop. Do not let officers convince you that explaining yourself will clear things up — it rarely does.

3. Preserve Self-Defense Evidence

If you were defending yourself, your injuries, the scene, threats, and witnesses matter. Don't alter anything — but tell your attorney everything so it can be documented before it disappears.

4. Don't Consent to Searches

You can decline a search of your home, car, or phone. Saying "I do not consent" preserves powerful suppression arguments — even if officers search anyway.

5. Don't Contact the Accuser

Never call, text, or message the alleged victim or witnesses. It can be charged as witness intimidation and used to portray consciousness of guilt. Let your lawyer handle all contact.

6. Call Morrison & Hughes

The earlier we're involved, the more evidence we can preserve and the more leverage we can build before bond and indictment. Call 404-LAW-TEAM — 24/7, confidential.

Common Questions

Georgia Violent Crime Defense FAQs

What counts as a "serious violent felony" in Georgia?
Under O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.1, Georgia lists seven "serious violent felonies": murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy, and aggravated sexual battery. A conviction for any of them carries a mandatory minimum of 10 to 25 years, and no portion of that minimum can be suspended, probated, or reduced by parole or earned time. Because of those minimums, how a charge is classified and proven matters enormously.
Does Georgia have a Stand Your Ground law?
Yes. Under O.C.G.A. § 16-3-23.1, Georgia imposes no duty to retreat. Combined with § 16-3-21, you are justified in using force — including deadly force — if you reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent death, great bodily harm, or a forcible felony to yourself or another. Self-defense is a complete justification, not merely a mitigating factor, and we assert it aggressively where the facts support it.
Can my case be dismissed before trial if I acted in self-defense?
Potentially, yes. O.C.G.A. § 16-3-24.2 grants immunity from criminal prosecution to someone who used justified force. We can file a pre-trial immunity motion; if the judge finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the force was justified, the case is dismissed before any trial (see State v. Sutton, 297 Ga. 222 (2015)). Note that the immunity does not apply if deadly force was used with a weapon the person was unlawfully carrying.
What are the "two strikes" and "three strikes" laws?
Under O.C.G.A. § 17-10-7, a second conviction for a serious violent felony requires life without parole (the "two strikes" rule), and a fourth felony conviction of any kind requires the maximum sentence served without parole (the "three strikes / recidivist" rule). The State must give clear pre-trial notice of its intent to seek recidivist punishment and prove each qualifying prior conviction — and defective notice or invalid priors can defeat the enhancement.
Is there a statute of limitations on violent crimes in Georgia?
It depends on the charge. Under O.C.G.A. § 17-3-1, there is no statute of limitations for murder. Crimes punishable by death or life imprisonment generally must be charged within seven years, forcible rape within 15 years, and most other felonies within four years (seven years for victims under 18). Certain tolling rules — for example, when the accused is unknown — can extend these deadlines, so timing should always be reviewed by an attorney.
How do you fight an aggravated assault or armed robbery charge?
We start by testing the State's proof of the aggravating element — the deadly weapon, the intent, or the use of an "offensive weapon" in a robbery — because that element is what elevates the charge. We then build affirmative defenses where they apply: self-defense, mistaken identity, lack of intent, and challenges to witness credibility and forensic evidence. We also move to suppress illegal searches and statements. Many charges are reduced or dismissed once the State realizes it cannot prove every element to a jury.
Is my conversation with Morrison & Hughes confidential?
Yes. Communications with our attorneys for the purpose of seeking legal advice are protected by the attorney-client privilege and kept strictly confidential. Your initial consultation is private and carries no obligation. We understand that a violent-crime accusation is frightening and deeply personal — there is no judgment here, only a team committed to defending you and protecting the presumption of innocence.
From the Morrison & Hughes Blog

Violent Crime Defense Resources

Straight guidance for people accused of violent crimes in Georgia, written by attorneys who defend them. Read these before you talk to law enforcement.

After Arrest

What Happens After You're Arrested in Georgia

Your rights in the first hours after an arrest, why you must never speak to detectives without counsel, and what to expect at first appearance.

Read article →
Bond & Bail

Bail, Bond & Beyond: The Criminal Court Process Explained

How bail and bond work in Georgia, why serious felonies require a Superior Court judge to grant release, and what factors judges weigh.

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Defense 101

How to Choose a Criminal Defense Lawyer — and Win Your Case

When your freedom is on the line, what separates a trial-ready defense from a weak one — and how to choose the attorney who can carry it.

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More Articles

Visit the Morrison & Hughes Blog

More straight-talking guides on Georgia criminal law, your rights, and how to fight the charges you're facing.

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Related Practice Areas

Practice Area

Battery & Aggravated Assault

Self-defense, mistaken identity, and overcharging are common in assault cases. We separate a fight from a felony and protect your record and your freedom.

Learn more →
Practice Area

Homicide Defense

Murder, felony murder, and vehicular homicide carry life sentences and no statute of limitations. We mount a flawless, forensic, trial-ready defense.

Learn more →
Practice Area

Gun & Weapon Offenses

Weapon enhancements and possession charges can transform a violent-crime case. We challenge every firearm allegation under Georgia law.

Learn more →

Service Areas: Find Your Local Violent Crime Defense Attorney

Six office locations across Georgia. We defend the accused statewide.

Marietta Alpharetta & Roswell Decatur Hiram Fayetteville LaGrange All Service Areas

Charged With a Violent Crime in Georgia? Call Now.

Confidential consultation — available 24/7. We'll listen without judgment, explain exactly what you're facing, and start protecting your record and your freedom today. With mandatory minimums on the line, the sooner you call, the more we can do.

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(404-529-8326)

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