What is the legal defense of "duress" in Georgia criminal law?

The legal defense of "duress" in Georgia criminal law refers to a situation where an individual commits a crime because they are compelled to do so under the threat of imminent harm or death. This defense is rooted in the principle that a person should not be held criminally liable for their actions if they were forced to act against their will due to immediate and severe threats of harm.

In practice, for a duress defense to be successful, the defendant must demonstrate that there was an actual threat of serious injury or death, that the threat was immediate, and that there was no reasonable opportunity to escape the situation. This defense is often applicable in cases where someone's freedom of choice is severely restricted by the coercion of another party, suggesting that their actions were not a voluntary decision but rather a response to the circumstances imposed upon them.

The other options do not accurately reflect the concept of duress. Misunderstanding the law relates to a lack of knowledge about legal standards, justification involves arguing that the act was necessary under the circumstances (like self-defense), and involuntary intoxication concerns a lack of control due to substances, rather than coercive threats. Therefore, the definition that best encapsulates the essence of duress in criminal law is the one that focuses