720 ILCS 5/31-1 – Resisting or Obstructing a Peace Officer, Firefighter, or Correctional Institution Employee
This law says it’s a crime to knowingly resist or block a police officer, firefighter, or jail worker when they’re doing their job.
This Illinois law makes it illegal to fight against, block, or interfere with a police officer, firefighter, or prison or jail worker who is carrying out official duties. Breaking this law can lead to jail time, community service, or even a felony charge if someone gets hurt.
(a) A person breaks the law if they knowingly:
- Try to stop or fight against being arrested, or
- Get in the way of or stop a police officer, firefighter, or jail employee from doing something they are allowed to do as part of their job.
Sentence: This crime is a Class A misdemeanor.
(a-5) Sentence: Besides any other punishment, the judge must order someone found guilty of this crime to spend at least 48 hours in jail without a break, or to do at least 100 hours of community service. The person can’t get probation to shorten this time.
(a-7) Sentence: If what the person did caused an injury to a police officer, firefighter, or jail employee, the crime becomes a Class 4 felony.
(b) The law defines a “correctional institution employee” as someone who supervises or controls inmates or people in custody at a prison, jail, detention center, or similar place. “Firefighter” means anyone, paid or volunteer, who works in a fire department and fights fires or helps with fire-related duties, including people who investigate arson for the State Fire Marshal.
(c) A person is not guilty under this law if they resist or get in the way of a firefighter only because they went back inside a building to rescue or try to rescue someone.
(d) A person can’t be arrested for resisting arrest unless there is another crime that caused the police to arrest them in the first place.
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