Staff Analysis of the Legislation
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SB 159 amends O.C.G.A. § 17-5-21 to provide criteria and guidelines by which no-knock¿ search warrants can be executed by law enforcement. New subsection (e) provides for definitions, criteria for the issuance of no-knock search warrants, and minimum requirements for guidelines and procedures to be adopted by law enforcement. O.C.G.A. § 17-5-27 is amended to clarify provisions for necessary and reasonable force for entry upon a building when a search warrant contains a no-knock. Provides for the appearance of the judicial officer who issued and the law enforcement official who obtained a no-knock search warrant to provide information regarding the usefulness of such warrant to a grand jury at the next succeeding term following a return or a return of not executed. |
