Resisting arrest should be removed as a crime

Resisting arrest is a misdemeanor in many US states.

It’s important to note that everyone resists arrest to some degree; it’s an instinct. While actively fighting the police is problematic, merely not wanting to be handcuffed shouldn’t be a crime.

The term “comply” is vague, and even if you surrender, your words or actions could be used to justify a resisting charge.

This charge impacts both the wealthy and the poor. The wealthy face higher legal costs, while the poor often get lumped with a plea deal due to overwhelmed public defenders.

The US legal system needs reforms, and addressing this issue could be a start.

1 Like

Why resist if you have nothing to fear unless you want to make a statement?

If you don’t fight back, you might still get treated poorly, but you might also be okay.

Do you believe that you will receive better treatment if you resist?

You should take it to court to fight it. It hurts your position to resist. It’s unfortunate that some police officers are just bad people sometimes, but it’s best to avoid encouraging them to use more forceful tactics.