Title 5 — Criminal Offenses
54 chapters · 1,112 sections in this title.
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-2-606 Use of physical force in defense of a person
3.6K chars
(a) (1) A person is justified in using physical force upon another person to defend himself or herself or a third person from what the person reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of unlawful physical force by that other person, and the person may use a degree of phys…
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-2-607 Use of deadly physical force in defense of a person
4.3K chars
(a) A person is justified in using deadly physical force upon another person if the person reasonably believes that the other person is:(1) Committing or about to commit a felony involving physical force or violence;(2) Using or about to use unlawful deadly physical force; or(3) …
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-2-608 Use of physical force in defense of premises
0.9K chars
(a) A person in lawful possession or control of premises or a vehicle is justified in using nondeadly physical force upon another person when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes the use of nondeadly physical force is necessary to prevent or terminate the commiss…
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-2-609 Use of physical force in defense of property
0.6K chars
(1) A person is justified in using nondeadly physical force upon another person when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes the use of nondeadly physical force is necessary to prevent or terminate the other person's:(1) Commission or attempted commission of theft o…
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-2-610 Use of physical force by law enforcement officers
2.1K chars
(a) A law enforcement officer is justified in using nondeadly physical force or threatening to use deadly physical force upon another person if the law enforcement officer reasonably believes the use of nondeadly physical force or the threat of use of deadly physical force is nec…
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-2-611 Use of physical force by private person aiding law enforcement officers
1.3K chars
(a) A person is justified in using nondeadly physical force when and to the extent the person reasonably believes the use of nondeadly physical force is necessary to:(1) Effect the arrest of a person reasonably believed to be committing or to have committed a felony; or(2) Preven…
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-2-612 Use of physical force in resisting arrest
0.4K chars
(1) Whether the arrest is lawful or unlawful, a person may not use physical force to resist an arrest by a person who is known or reasonably appears to be a:(1) Law enforcement officer; or(2) Private citizen directed by a law enforcement officer to assist in effecting an arrest. …
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-2-613 Use of physical force to prevent escape from correctional facility or custody of correctional officer
1.0K chars
(a) Unless the correctional officer knows or reasonably should know that a prisoner is charged with or has been convicted of only a misdemeanor, a correctional officer employed by the Division of Correction or by a private contractor in a correctional facility housing inmates for…
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-2-614 Use of reckless or negligent force
0.8K chars
(a) When a person believes that the use of physical force is necessary for any purpose justifying that use of physical force under this subchapter but the person is reckless or negligent either in forming that belief or in employing an excessive degree of physical force, the just…
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-2-615 Use of physical force by a pregnant woman in defense of her unborn child
1.2K chars
(a) As used in this section:(1) “Pregnant” means the female reproductive condition of having an unborn child in the female's body; and(2) “Unborn child” means the offspring of human beings from conception until birth. (1) “Pregnant” means the female reproductive condition of havi…
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-2-620 Use of force to defend persons and property within home
0.9K chars
(a) The right of an individual to defend himself or herself and the life of a person or property in the individual's home against harm, injury, or loss by a person unlawfully entering or attempting to enter or intrude into the home is reaffirmed as a fundamental right to be prese…
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-2-621 [Transferred.]
0.2K chars
A.C.A. § 5-2-621Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved
Ark. Code Ann. § 5-2-622 Gambling debts and losses
0.2K chars
It is no defense to a prosecution for a crime of violence that a person was seeking recovery or replevin of a gambling debt or loss in circumstances in which civil recovery is permitted by § 16-118-103.