CRIMES AND OFFENSES Sexual Offenses: Change the Provisions Relating to the Offense of Rape; Change Penalty Provisions to Require Life In Prison Without Parole

The Act changes the definition of the offense of rape. Originally, the Georgia statute defined rape as forcibly having carnal knowledge of a woman against her will. While retaining this traditional definition of rape for the adult female, the Act amends the definition with regard to a female under ten years of age to include merely having carnal knowledge of such a female. The Act also amends the penalty provision to allow a sentence of life imprisonment without parole; previously the Code section allowed only for death, life in prison, or imprisonment for ten to twenty years.