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Georgia Child Molestation Laws

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Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect

Georgia Annotated Code §§ 19-7-5 sets forth a list of professionals required to report suspected child abuse or neglect (including sexual abuse) to authorities. The list includes medical care professionals, teachers and school administrators, psychologists and therapists, day care workers, photo and film processors, and law enforcement personnel. 

Any other person who has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been abused may also make a report.

Reports must be made immediately. Failure to report is a misdemeanor.

Sexual Abuse and Exploitation

Georgia Ann. Code § 19-7-5(b) provides that “sexual abuse” occurs when a person employs, uses, persuades, induces, entices, or coerces a minor who is not that person’s spouse to engage in any act that involves:

  • Sexual intercourse, including genital-genital, oral-genital, anal-genital, or oral-anal, whether between persons of the same or opposite sex
  • Bestiality or masturbation
  • Lewd exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of any person
  • Flagellation or torture by or upon a person who is nude
  • Condition of being fettered, bound, or otherwise physically restrained on the part of a person who is nude
  • Physical contact in an act of apparent sexual stimulation or gratification with any person’s clothed or unclothed genitals, pubic area, or buttocks or with a female’s clothed or unclothed breasts
  • Defecation or urination for the purpose of sexual stimulation
  • Penetration of the vagina or rectum by any object except when done as part of a recognized medical procedure

“Sexual exploitation” means conduct by any person who allows, permits, encourages, or requires a child to engage in prostitution or sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual or print medium depicting such conduct.