ATLANTA (AP) — A Georgia bill that would reduce sentences for those who could tie their crimes to domestic abuse is on its way to becoming law.
Women nationwide are in prison for killing their abusive partners in self-defense. Others were coerced into committing crimes with their abusers. Women of color are especially likely to end up in prison for crimes tied to abuse, experts have said.
House Bill 582 passed the Senate 53-1 on Thursday after the House overwhelmingly passed it last month. Once the House approves final changes, which it is expected to, it will go to Republican Gov. Brian Kemp’s desk for his signature.
Over 100 women in Georgia prisons could get shorter sentences, according to the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Mary Favors, an incarcerated abuse survivor whose story the AP reported, hopes to work at a battered women’s shelter if she gets out. She is in prison for killing her abusive husband. She says he jumped onto a knife she grabbed to defend herself.
If Kemp signs the bill, Georgia would join Oklahoma, Illinois, New York and California in giving domestic abuse victims in prison or charged with a crime the chance to ask judges for lower sentences and present evidence to prove abuse drove their crime.
The bill, sponsored by Republican Rep. Stan Gunter, would also make it easier for people going forward to prove their crime was driven by abuse and let them bring in more evidence. Current Georgia law is strict about what evidence of abuse people can present and under what circumstances they can present it.
“House Bill 582 would prevent survivors from serving long sentences for conduct needed for their own survival,” said Sen. Bo Hatchett, the Republican carrying the bill. “House Bill 582 would allow Georgia’s criminal law to catch up with society’s modern understanding of domestic violence dynamics.”
Under Georgia’s bill, if a judge determines that family violence, dating violence or child abuse contributed to a crime with a minimum sentence of life in prison, the judge would have to impose a sentence of 10 to 30 years in prison unless prosecutors agree to a lower sentence.
For other felonies, judges would not be able to sentence the defendant to more than half of the maximum sentence they could have otherwise gotten. People in prison could also request resentencing under the rules if the act ultimately becomes law.
Several district attorneys originally opposed the bill and contacted their representatives to oppose it when the House voted on it. But the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council took a neutral stance after they won some changes. For example, the minimum sentence a judge could impose under the original bill if they found domestic abuse contributed to a crime was one year.
Between 74% and 95% of incarcerated women nationwide have survived domestic abuse or sexual violence, according to the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
“We only got three dissenting votes the entire time, which sends such a strong message to survivors in our state that we take their experience seriously, we value them, that their voices are heard, that they’re safe, and the people care about seeing actual justice and healing,” said Ellie Williams, legal director with the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Charlotte Kramon is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Kramon on X: @charlottekramon.
Ellie Williams, Legal Director of the Justice for Incarcerated Survivors Program at the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence stands for a photo at the Georgia Capitol in Atlanta on March 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Charlotte Kramon)
FILE - Georgia state Sen. Bo Hatchett, R-Cornelia, speaks to reporters on March, 11, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy, File)
FILE - House Election Integrity Chairman Stan Gunter speaks about election bill SB 89 on Sine Die, the last day of the General Assembly at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta on Monday, April 4, 2022. (Branden Camp /Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, File)
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Shedeur Sanders insisted Friday he doesn't necessarily need the bright lights of Broadway or the Bellagio at the outset of his NFL journey. He suggested he could just as easily thrive for the “Dawg Pound” fan base in Cleveland.
“I could bring cameras and eyes anywhere I go," Sanders declared after throwing passes to a fantastic foursome of two-way star Travis Hunter, Jimmy Horn Jr., Will Sheppard and LaJohnty Wester at Colorado's pro day, dubbed the “We Ain't Hard 2 Find Showcase."
“It don’t matter where I go, I know ... the influence I have on the society and the culture," Sanders said. "So wherever I go it’s definitely going to be an improvement than what it was before I got there.”
Sanders proclaimed he's the top quarterback in the NFL draft on April 24, although most mock drafts have the Tennessee Titans taking Miami QB Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick, followed by either Sanders or Hunter, the 21-year-old two-way star and Heisman Trophy winner who skipped the testing periods Friday but shined while running routes and catching passes — without gloves — from Sanders.
Hunter also shunned the post-workout podium after scores of NFL talent evaluators from all 32 teams descended on Colorado’s campus for the showcase whose moniker was a nod to one of “Coach Prime” Deion Sanders’ mottos. NFL Network broadcast the event and ESPN also was on hand.
The Browns own the second overall pick in the draft, followed by the New York Giants. Although both Sanders and Hunter figure to be selected in the top three picks, the Las Vegas Raiders could try to move up from sixth.
Deion Sanders has said he wants Shedeur to go to the right team with the right fit and he portrayed the Browns as an ideal possibility when asked about Shedeur and Hunter having dined with Browns bigwigs Thursday night.
No matter where he lands, Shedeur Sanders will be part of a rebuild, something he said he used to: “I don't think Jackson State or Colorado had a winning history before I got there. So, it's just another day in the office, another year in the office for me. It's the same thing over and over.
“I'm just thankful for the opportunity and whoever drafts me ... will be very lucky to get me.”
Deion Sanders stuck by his proclamation that Shedeur and Hunter should go 1-2 in the draft, although he didn't say who should be the top pick.
Hunter and Shedeur Sanders both skipped workouts at the NFL scouting combine and the Big 12 Pro Day. Sanders' brother, safety Shilo Sanders, skipped the bench press and vertical jumps that began the day at the Buffaloes' indoor practice facility Friday, citing a sore right shoulder. But he ran the 40-yard dash in an impressive 4.52 seconds before cheering on his brother's passes in the afternoon.
All eyes were on Shedeur Sanders and Hunter, the 21-year-old two-way star who had 96 catches for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns on offense and 35 tackles, 11 pass breakups, eight forced incompletions and four interceptions on defense while allowing just one touchdown last season when the Buffaloes went 9-4.
Hunter, who won the Heisman, Chuck Bednarik and Fred Biletnikoff awards, wants to play both offense and defense in the NFL, something that Hall of Famer Champ Bailey, the last true two-way player to come out of college, said will depend on where he lands on draft night.
“It's about what the team allows him to do,” Bailey told The Associated Press while watching the action. “When you call the defense out there, he's going to run out. When you call the offense out on the field, he's going to run out. But who's your coach? What will they allow him to do? Where he goes is going to determine how those first couple of years play out and the opportunities he gets. He's just got to get with the right team.”
Asked what it was like throwing to this group of receivers one last time, Shedeur Sanders said, “I'm not sure that one of these guys won't be on my team. I know them. So, who knows? Who knows if Shilo's going to be on my team? So, there's a lot of I-don't-know's right now.”
What he does know is his favorite part of pro day was having his brother cheering him on.
“It was cool that he was able to be there and support me. I wish I was there to watch him run his 40-yard. I think he ran a 4.52. So, he's been training hard to get that done, so I'm excited that we're all here, we're all shining and we're all going to be legendary.”
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Colorado head coach Deion Sanders looks on as players take part in the 40-yard dash during Colorado's NFL football pro day Friday, April 4, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
