Ark. Code Ann. § 5-2-615
This is the official text of Ark. Code Ann. § 5-2-615, part of Arkansas’s Code Ann — part of the compiled statutory law of Arkansas, published by the state as "Code Ann." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Use of physical force by a pregnant woman in defense of her unborn child
Official statutory text
(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. (b) A pregnant woman is justified in using physical force or deadly physical force against another person to protect her unborn child if, under the circumstances as the pregnant woman reasonably believes them to be, she would be justified under § 5-2-606 or § 5-2-607 in using physical force or deadly physical force to protect herself against the unlawful physical force or unlawful deadly physical force she reasonably believes to be threatening her unborn child. (c) The justification for using physical force or deadly physical force against another person to protect a pregnant woman's unborn child is not available if the use of the physical force or deadly physical force for protection was used by a person other than the pregnant woman. Amended by Act 2021, No. 250,§ 3, eff. 7/28/2021. Added by Act 2013, No. 156,§ 3, eff. 8/16/2013.
(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 having an unborn child in the female's body; and
(2) "Unborn child" means the offspring of human beings from conception until birth.
(b) A pregnant woman is justified in using physical force or deadly physical force against another person to protect her unborn child if, under the circumstances as the pregnant woman reasonably believes them to be, she would be justified under § 5-2-606 or § 5-2-607 in using physical force or deadly physical force to protect herself against the unlawful physical force or unlawful deadly physical force she reasonably believes to be threatening her unborn child.
(c) The justification for using physical force or deadly physical force against another person to protect a pregnant woman's unborn child is not available if the use of the physical force or deadly physical force for protection was used by a person other than the pregnant woman.
Amended by Act 2021, No. 250,§ 3, eff. 7/28/2021.
Added by Act 2013, No. 156,§ 3, eff. 8/16/2013.
(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 having an unborn child in the female's body; and
(2) "Unborn child" means the offspring of human beings from conception until birth.
(b) A pregnant woman is justified in using physical force or deadly physical force against another person to protect her unborn child if, under the circumstances as the pregnant woman reasonably believes them to be, she would be justified under § 5-2-606 or § 5-2-607 in using physical force or deadly physical force to protect herself against the unlawful physical force or unlawful deadly physical force she reasonably believes to be threatening her unborn child.
(c) The justification for using physical force or deadly physical force against another person to protect a pregnant woman's unborn child is not available if the use of the physical force or deadly physical force for protection was used by a person other than the pregnant woman.
Amended by Act 2021, No. 250,§ 3, eff. 7/28/2021.
Added by Act 2013, No. 156,§ 3, eff. 8/16/2013.
Status: in_force
Need a lawyer in Arkansas?
Find a Arkansas lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.