SUMMARY OF STATUTORY PROVISIONS

50 State Survey (Statutory) Right to Resist Unlawful Arrest

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

ALI cites Ala. Code tit. 13A, §3-23(a)(Special Pamphlet 1978) as justification
statute Library of Congress has not received Special Pamphlet

Alaska Stat. §5 11.81.330, 11.81.335 (1978) (justification for use of nondeadly
and deadly force to prevent injury ot person).

Ariz. Rev. Stat. §13-404(B)(2)(1978) (use of force not permitted to resist un
lawful arrest, unless police use excessive force).

Ark. Stat. Ann. §41-506 (1977 Replacement Vol.) (justification of use of force
to defend against unlawful force).

Cal. Civ. Code $50 (West) (1954) (use of force to protect against wrongful injury).

Colo. Rev. Stat. $18-1-704 (1973, 1976 Cum. Supp.) (use of force to defend against unlawful force).

Connecticut

Delaware

Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §53a-23 (West) (1972) (use of force to resist lawful or
lawful arrest not justified).

Del. Code tit. 11, §464(C) (1974) (use of force to resist lawful or unlawful arrest not justified).

District of
Columbia

Florida

Georgia

D.C. Code $22-505(a) (1973) (use of force to resist lawful or unlawful arrest not
Justified).

Fla. Stat. Ann. $776.051 (West) (1976) (use of force to resist arrest by one known to be law enforcement officer not justified).

Ga. Code Ann. $26-902 (1978) (use of force justified to defend against unlawful
force).

Hawaii

Haw. Rev. Stat. $703-304(4)(a) (Penal Code 1975) (use of force not justified to resist unlawful arrest).

Idaho

Illinois

Idaho Code $18-190 note (1948) (citation of 46 A.L.R. 904 regarding right of selfdefense by officer attempting illegal arrest).

Ill. Ann. Stat. ch. 7 57-1 (Smith-Hurd) (1972) (use of force to defend against unlawful force).

Indiana

Ind. Code Ann. $35-41-3-2 (Burns) (1973 Cum. Supp. 1977) (use of force to defend against unlawful force).

Iowa

Iowa Code Ann. §§691.1, 691.2 note 6 (West) (1950) (lawful resistance in self-defense, case citation to right to resist illegal arrest).

Kansas

Kan. Stat. Ann. §21-3211 (1974) (use of force justified in defense against unlawful force).

Kentucky

Ky. Rev. Stat. $503.050 (1975) (use of force justified in defense against unlawful force).

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§19, 20 (1974) (use of force justified to prevent a forcible offense against the person).

Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Tit. 17-A $108 (1977) (physical force to defend against nondeadly force believed to be unlawful).

Md. ann. Code, art. 27, $12, note (1976 Replacement vol.) (assault with intent to murder, case citation to reduction of charge when killing in resistence to unlawful arrest).

Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 265, $13, 13A and notes (West) (1970) (case citations regarding extent to right to resist unlawful arrest).

No statutory provision or note regarding use of force to defend against unlawful

arrest or act.

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Minn. Stat. Ann. §609.06(3) (West) (1964); $609.065 (Cum. 1979) (use of force resist offense against the person, justifiable homocide).

Miss. Code Ann. $997-3-15 and note 3, 97-3-7 and note 11 (1972, Cum. Supp. 1978) (justifiable homocide, simple assault, and cases that force not justified).

Mo. Ann. Stat. $559.040 and note 4, 559.220 and note 6 (Vernon) (1953) (justifiable homocide, common assault, and cases regarding when unlawful arrest may be resisted).

Mont. Rev. Code Ann. 94-3-102 (1973) (us of force to defend against unlawful force).

Neb. Rev. Stat. §28-1409(2) (1978) (use of force not justified to resist unlawful arrest).

Nevada

No statutory provision or note regarding use of force to defend against arrest, but cf. Nev. Rev. Stat. $200.481(2)(c) (1) (1) (1973) (battery of officer performing duty).

New Hampshire N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. 5627:4 (1974) (use of force to defend against unlawful force).

New Jersey'

1978 N.J. Sess. Law Serv., ch. 95, $2C: 3-4(b)(1)(a) (use of force to resist unlawful arrest not justified unless officer employes excessive force).

New Mexico

N. M. Stat. Ann. $30-2-7 (1978) (justifiable homocide when in necessary defense of life or against unlawful action).

New York

N.Y. Penal Law (McKinney) $35.15 (1975) (use of force to defend against unlawful force).

North
Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

N.C. Gen. Stat. $14-33 and notes (1977) (assault state, cases regarding presumption that officer acting lawfully).

N.D. Cent. Code $12.1-05-03 (1976) (self-defense not justified to resist unlawful arrest, but excessive force may be resisted).

Ohio Rev. Code Ann. $2903.01 note 95 (Anderson) (1975) (case citation regarding no right to resist lawful authority on charge of aggravated murder).

Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 21, $643 and note 10 (West) (1958) (use of force to prevent injury; cases cited regarding prevention of unlawful arrest).

Oregon

Or. Rev. Stat. $161.260 (1977) (use of physical force in resisting lawful or unlawful arrest prohibited).

Pennsylvania 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. $505(h)(1)(i) (Purdon) (1973) (use of force not justified to resist arrest by known officer, even though unlawful).

Rhode Island No statutory provision or note regardng use of force to resist unlawful arrest

Carolina

No statutory provision or note regarding use of force to resist unlawful arrest

or act.

S. D. Compiled Laws Ann. §22-16-35 (1978 Supp.) (homocide justified on reasonable ground to apprehend felony or great personal injury).

Tenn. Code Ann. $$38-101, 38-102 (1975) (resistance to a public offense may be
made to prevent injury to person).

Texas Penal Code Ann. tit. 2, §9.31(b)(2), (c)(Vernon) (1974) (force not justified to resist arrest unless officer uses excessive force).

Utah

Vermont

Utah Code Ann. $76-2-402(1) (1978 Replacement vol.) (use of force justified to defend against unlawful force).

Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 13, $2305 note 1 (1974 Replacement ed.) (justifiable homocide, case citation holding self-defense inapplicable in lawful arrest).

Virginia

Va. Code $18.2-51 note II, B (1975 Replacement vol.) (illegal arrest does not give rise to right to resist by shooting or homocide).

Washington

Wash. Rev. Code Ann. §9A.16.020 (1977) (use of force not unlawful to prevent offense against person).

West Virginia No statutory provision or note regarding use of force to resist unlawful arrest or

act.

Wisconsin

Wis. Stat. Ann. 1939.48 and note 8 (West) (1958, Cum. 1978) (use of force privileged to prevent unlawful interference with person).

Wyoming

No statutory provision or note regarding use of force to resist unlawful arrest

or act.