GA Code § 16-2-20 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 16 - Crimes and Offenses|Chapter 2 - Criminal Liability|Article 2 - Parties to Crimes|§ 16-2-20. When a Person Is a Party to a Crime

  Every person concerned in the commission of a crime is a party thereto and may be charged with and convicted of commission of the crime.   A person is concerned in the commission of a crime only if he:   Directly commits the crime;   Intentionally causes some other person to commit the crime under such circumstances that the other person is not guilty of any crime either in fact or because of legal incapacity;   Intentionally aids or abets in the commission of the crime; or   Intentionally advises, encourages, hires, counsels, or procures another to commit the crime.      (Code 1933, § 26-801, enacted by Ga. L. 1968, p. 1249, § 1.)   Law reviews.   - For article, "State v. Jackson and the Explosion of Liability for Felony Murder," see 62 Mercer L. Rev. 1335 (2011). For article, "Individual Accountability for Corporate Crime," see 34 Ga. St. U. L. Rev. 335 (2018). For note discussing organized crime in Georgia with respect to the application of state gambling laws, and suggesting proposals for combatting organized crime, see 7 Ga. St. B. J. 124 (1970). For note discussing the felony murder rule, and proposing legislation to place limitations on Georgia's felony murder statute, see 9 Ga. St. B. J. 462 (1973).   JUDICIAL DECISIONS   ANALYSIS    General Consideration   Conspiracy   Aiding and Abetting   Application    OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL   Corporate agent who aids or abets principal in commission of crime is a party.   - Where corporate agent has either committed offense in all its elements and particulars or has intentionally aided or abetted the corporate principal in commission of crime in all its particulars and elements, the corporate agent is a party to the offense and punishable as such. 1970 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 70-155.   RESEARCH REFERENCES   Am. Jur. 2d.   - 21 Am. Jur. 2d, Criminal Law, § 176 et seq.   C.J.S.   - 22 C.J.S., Criminal Law: Substantive Principles, § 166.   ALR.    - Criminal responsibility of one cooperating in offense which he is incapable of committing personally, 5 A.L.R. 782; 74 A.L.R. 1110; 131 A.L.R. 1322.    Individual criminal responsibility of officer or employee for larceny or embezzlement, through corporate act, of property of third person, 33 A.L.R. 787.    Penal or criminal liability as affected by defendant's employment of an independent contractor, 55 A.L.R. 642.    Criminal responsibility of one who furnishes instrumentality of a kind ordinarily used for legitimate purposes, with knowledge that it is to be used by another for criminal purposes, 108 A.L.R. 331.    Homicide by companion of defendant while attempting to escape from scene of crime as murder in first degree, 108 A.L.R. 847.   Who other than actor is liable for manslaughter, 95 A.L.R.2d 175.   Offense of aiding and abetting illegal possession of drugs or narcotics, 47 A.L.R.3d 1239.   Acquittal of principal, or his conviction of lesser degree of offense, as affecting prosecution of accessory, or aider and abettor, 9 A.L.R.4th 972.   Sufficiency of evidence to establish criminal participation by individual involved in gang fight or assault, 24 A.L.R.4th 243.   Criminal liability for death of another as result of accused's attempt to kill self or assist another's suicide, 40 A.L.R.4th 702.   Prosecution of female as principal for rape, 67 A.L.R.4th 1127.   Criminality of act of directing to, or recommending, source from which illicit drugs may be purchased, 34 A.L.R.5th 125.