Resisting arrest

In some countries, resisting arrest is a criminal charge against an individual who has committed, depending on the jurisdiction, at least one of the following acts:

• fleeing a police officer while being arrested
• threatening a police officer with physical violence while being arrested
• physically struggling to get out from being restrained (handcuffed or put into the police vehicle)
• attacking a police officer while being arrested
• providing an officer with false identification (either verbally or by presentation of a false official document, i.e. a [[

Similar offenses may be defined very differently in other countries.^{[citation needed]}

United States

The courts in the United States of America regard resisting arrest as a separate charge or crime in addition to other alleged crimes committed by the arrested person. It is possible (and has happened)^{[citation needed]} to be charged, tried and convicted on this charge alone.

Denmark

The Danish penal code makes allowance for some forms of eluding and thus is very different from the penal code in the United States.

Norway

Resisting arrest in Norway can be punished with up to 3 months in jail.^{[citation needed]}

Taiwan, Republic of China

Any arrest not in accordance with the procedure prescribed by law may be constitutionally resisted. Conversely, knowingly and willfully resisting a lawful police arrest with threats or violence may indirectly constitute obstructing official duty.

See also

• Obstructing government administration
• Fugitive
• All-points bulletin
• Probable cause
• Plummer v. State

References

• Example code from New Jersey
• Resisting Arrest - Risk and Realities
• Resisting Arrest - Legal Representation