R Street Letter to GA Governor Kemp in Support of HB 582, “Georgia Survivor Justice Act”

April 11, 2025
Office of Governor Brian P. Kemp
206 Washington Street
111 State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334

RE: The R Street Institute SUPPORTS HB 582, “Georgia Survivor Justice Act”

Gov. Kemp,

My name is Lisel Petis, and I am the Policy Director for Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties at the R Street Institute, a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy organization dedicated to advancing pragmatic solutions that promote free markets and limited, effective government. Prior to my current role, I worked as both a prosecutor and the executive director of a victim services agency, directly supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence. These experiences have given me first hand insight into the painful gaps in our justice system when it comes to recognizing and responding to the realities of abuse.

I write today to respectfully urge you to sign House Bill 582, the Georgia Survivor Justice Act, into law. This legislation earned overwhelming bipartisan support in both chambers of the General Assembly, a clear indication of its thoughtful design and widespread recognition of its importance. HB 582 equips our courts with the necessary tools to make more informed, balanced decisions by allowing them to fully consider evidence of abuse at trial, during sentence, and—when appropriate—through a measured process of sentence reconsideration.

In Georgia, more than 35 percent of women have experienced intimate partner violence, and tragically, someone in the state loses their life to domestic violence nearly every 48 hours.^[1] Yet, too often, survivors of prolonged abuse face prosecution and incarceration without the full context of their circumstances being heard. This can lead to excessively harsh sentences for those who acted in direct response to their unimaginable trauma.

Frequently, Georgia’s justice system overlooks the realities of long-term abuse, leaving many survivors—mostly women and many mothers—incarcerated for actions taken under coercion or in self-defense.^[2] Survivors of abuse who commit crimes in response to endured abuse should not be subject to the same sentencing standards of those without such trauma. HB 582 ensures courts can consider the full context of each case, delivering justice that is both fair and faithful to the rule of law. It does not erase accountability, it ensures that justice is informed by the facts and the realities of lived experience.

Importantly, the bill contains strong safeguards. New evidence introduced in trial under this law must comply with Georgia’s existing evidentiary standards, and courts retain discretion to prevent meritless claims from moving forward. This provides a responsible balance that upholds the integrity of our justice system while offering a fairer path for survivors.

HB 582 is commonsense, bipartisan policy-making promoting fairness without compromising public safety. Your signature on this bill will send a powerful message that Georgia stands with survivors, while remaining committed to a justice system that reflects both accountability and fairness. We strongly support this legislation and respectfully request that you sign HB 582 into law.

Thank you for your leadership and your thoughtful consideration of this important measure.

Respectfully,

Lisel Petis
Policy Director, Criminal Justice & Civil Liberties
R Street Institute
lpetis@rstreet.org 

[1] “Shelter Statistics,” Safe Shelter, last accessed March 24, 2025. https://safeshelter.org/learn/statistics; “Family Violence Reports” Georgia Commission on Family Violence, last accessed March 24, 2025. https://gcfv.georgia.gov/resources/data.

[2] Wendy Sawyer and Wanda Bertram, “Prisons and jails will separate millions of mothers from their children in 2022,” Prison Policy Initiative, May 4, 2022. https://www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2022/05/04/mothers_day.