• Resisting arrest can land you in jail.police body and dog image by Sergey Galushko from Fotolia.com
  
  Resisting arrest refers to a charge given to individuals who attempt to resist being taken into custody by a peace or police officer. A resisting arrest charge is considered a misdemeanor in many states across the U.S. If the person being arrested attempts to resist the officer by using some form of weapon, the misdemeanor changes to a felonious crime. The consequences for resisting arrest can include jail time and expensive fines.
  
  

Arkansas

• As of August, 2010, Arkansas citizens convicted of resisting arrest can expect to pay a fine of $200 to $500 depending on the details of the case. The average jail sentence for resisting arrest in Arkansas lasts anywhere from 60 days to 365 days. Three years remains the average length of probation time given to an individual convicted of resisting arrest in Arkansas. Other consequences can include work programs consisting of community service.
  
  

Georgia

• Georgia has a wide differential involving the fine given to an individual convicted of resisting arrest. As of August, 2010, the fine can range from $1,500 to $10,000. A suspect can be sentenced to up to five years in jail for a felony resisting arrest conviction in Georgia. A suspect convicted of a misdemeanor resisting arrest charge who has a clean criminal background may be excused from having probation. The average probation sentence for an offender with a criminal background can be up to three years.
  
  

North Dakota

• North Dakota has the highest possible fine for an individual convicted of resisting arrest of any state in the U.S. The maximum fine for a resisting arrest conviction can be up to $25,000 as of August, 2010. North Dakota also has the harshest jail sentence for a resisting arrest conviction. The average jail sentence for a person convicted of resisting arrest in North Dakota is 94 months. The average probation sentence in North Dakota for resisting arrest is three years and four months. North Dakota legislature also states that an individual convicted of resisting arrest should have his driver's license suspended.
  
  

New York

• A New York resident convicted of a resisting arrest charge can pay up to $4,000 in fines as of August, 2010. The convicted individual can spend up to one year in jail. New York remains one of the only states in the U.S. that require people convicted of resisting arrest to attend a series of anger management classes. The probation sentence given to a person convicted of resisting arrest varies depending on the severity of the case.