Indiana criminal charge
Resisting law enforcement; interfering with public safety in Indiana
Resisting law enforcement; interfering with public safety is a criminal offense under Indiana law, defined by Ind. Code § 35-44.1-3-1. Its classification is not fixed: Indiana assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Ind. Code § 35-44.1-3-1.
What is the penalty for resisting law enforcement; interfering with public safety in Indiana?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 1 year (Resisting law enforcement (base offense) — A person knowingly or intentionally forcibly resists, obstructs, or interferes with a law enforcement officer or process, or flees after being ordered to stop, absent the aggravating circumstances in subsection (c).) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-3-2 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Resisting law enforcement (base offense) — A person knowingly or intentionally forcibly resists, obstructs, or interferes with a law enforcement officer or process, or flees after being ordered to stop, absent the aggravating circumstances in subsection (c).) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-3-2 |
| Jail / prison | up to 180 days (Interfering with public safety (base offense) — A person knowingly or intentionally enters a barrier-taped or physically barricaded area after being denied entry, absent the aggravating circumstances in subsection (c) or the defense in (j).) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-3-3 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (Interfering with public safety (base offense) — A person knowingly or intentionally enters a barrier-taped or physically barricaded area after being denied entry, absent the aggravating circumstances in subsection (c) or the defense in (j).) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-3-3 |
| Jail / prison | 6 months to 30 months (Repeat resisting with risk of injury or repeat fleeing — The person commits an offense under (a)(1) or (a)(2) creating substantial risk of bodily injury with two or more prior unrelated convictions under (a), or commits (a)(3) with two or more prior unrelated convictions under (a).; fixed term; advisory sentence 1 year; court may enter judgment of conviction as a Class A misdemeanor in limited circumstances (IC 35-50-2-7(c))) | presumptive | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-7 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Repeat resisting with risk of injury or repeat fleeing — The person commits an offense under (a)(1) or (a)(2) creating substantial risk of bodily injury with two or more prior unrelated convictions under (a), or commits (a)(3) with two or more prior unrelated convictions under (a).) | discretionary | Ind. Code § 35-50-2-7 |
Applies to current.
How is resisting law enforcement; interfering with public safety classified in Indiana?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resisting law enforcement (base offense) | Class A Misdemeanor | A person knowingly or intentionally forcibly resists, obstructs, or interferes with a law enforcement officer or process, or flees after being ordered to stop, absent the aggravating circumstances in subsection (c). | Ind. Code § 35-44.1-3-1(a) |
| Interfering with public safety (base offense) | Class B Misdemeanor | A person knowingly or intentionally enters a barrier-taped or physically barricaded area after being denied entry, absent the aggravating circumstances in subsection (c) or the defense in (j). | Ind. Code § 35-44.1-3-1(b) |
| Repeat resisting with risk of injury or repeat fleeing | Level 6 Felony | The person commits an offense under (a)(1) or (a)(2) creating substantial risk of bodily injury with two or more prior unrelated convictions under (a), or commits (a)(3) with two or more prior unrelated convictions under (a). | Ind. Code § 35-44.1-3-1(d) |
Common questions about resisting law enforcement; interfering with public safety in Indiana
Is resisting law enforcement; interfering with public safety a felony or a misdemeanor in Indiana?
It depends on the circumstances: resisting law enforcement; interfering with public safety ranges from a Class B Misdemeanor to a Level 6 Felony in Indiana under Ind. Code § 35-44.1-3-1.
Resisting law enforcement (base offense): Class A Misdemeanor (Ind. Code § 35-44.1-3-1(a)) · Interfering with public safety (base offense): Class B Misdemeanor (Ind. Code § 35-44.1-3-1(b)) · Repeat resisting with risk of injury or repeat fleeing: Level 6 Felony (Ind. Code § 35-44.1-3-1(d))
What are the penalties for resisting law enforcement; interfering with public safety in Indiana?
Penalties for resisting law enforcement; interfering with public safety in Indiana depend on how it is classified — from a Class B Misdemeanor up to a Level 6 Felony — with the ranges set by Ind. Code § 35-50-3-2, Ind. Code § 35-50-3-3 and Ind. Code § 35-50-2-7; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Indiana statute covers resisting law enforcement; interfering with public safety?
Resisting law enforcement; interfering with public safety is governed by Ind. Code § 35-44.1-3-1 (Resisting law enforcement; interfering with public safety).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.