What is the age of criminal responsibility in Georgia?

In Georgia, the age of criminal responsibility is set at 13 years old. This means that children who are 13 years or older can be charged with a crime and face criminal prosecution in the juvenile justice system. Below the age of 13, a child cannot be held criminally responsible for their actions, as the law presumes they do not possess the necessary mental capacity to understand the consequences of their actions fully.

This age threshold reflects the legal understanding that young children are generally not able to appreciate the nature of their actions or the societal rules they violate. It's important to note that while the age of criminal responsibility is 13, this does not mean that minors are treated the same as adults in the legal system; rather, they are typically dealt with through juvenile court proceedings, which focus more on rehabilitation than punishment.