Lawmakers: Dogfighting debates on Day 15

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On Feb. 8, 2023, the Georgia Senate Public Safety Committee votes "yea" on a bill that increases dog fighting penalties.

Credit: GPB

Senators passed a bill out of committee that would increase penalties for dogfighting in Georgia.  

Senate Bill 68, sponsored by Sen. Rick Williams (R - Milledgeville), would allow prosecutors to go after repeat dogfighting organizers using the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, or RICO, statute.  

"This is stronger than the current penalties for participating in or being a spectator at dogfights," he said. "And in addition, RICO offenders would be subject to civil forfeiture of any property used or gained as part of the criminal dogfighting enterprise."

According to Williams, the increased penalty is necessary to deter dogfighting. But Sen. Kim Jackson (D - Stone Mountain) noted that repeat offenders already face a felony charge for dogfighting. She also questioned how common it is for those convicted of organizing dogfighting to get out of jail and organize more dogfights.  

Support for the bill comes from Georgia’s chief investigative body, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. GBI Executive Director John Melvin supports the bill because it targets the entire dogfighting enterprise. 

"We can really go after not just the spectator or the organizer, but we can go after the criminal enterprise that puts the stuff on and that's that will help us be able to address this problem," he said. Melvin said that someone would face a misdemeanor charge if they were a one-time spectator, but would face RICO charges if they were a repeat offender or otherwise involved in gangs.  

Jessica Rock, Georgia's state animal crimes prosecutor echoed Melvin’s sentiment.  

"It allows us to go after the entire criminal enterprise of everybody that's networking together to transport these dogs, to train them, to breed them, to sell them, because it takes a whole underground world of people to make the world of dogfighting happen," she said. Rock said she has also observed connections between dogfighting, gang activity and drug trafficking.  

RICO statutes are typically used in Georgia to prosecute serious crimes and gang activities. The statute was recently used to prosecute alleged crimes by several rappers, including Young Thug.  

The bill passed through the Public Safety Committee 5-3 in a party-line vote. An amendment was added to allow for an expanded definition of dogfighting in Georgia law in the future. Rep. Scott Hilton (R - Peachtree Corners) has proposed a bill, House Bill 217, that would criminalize cockfighting as well. 

SB 68 will now go to the Rules Committee to determine if it makes it onto the Senate floor.