The bill amends the Arkansas Code concerning the offenses of robbery and aggravated robbery. Specifically, it revises the definition of robbery in Arkansas Code 5-12-102(a) to include new language that broadens the circumstances under which a person can be charged with robbery. The amendment states that a person commits robbery if they employ or threaten to employ physical force, or create a circumstance that would cause a reasonable person to believe that the use of physical force is imminent, while intending to commit a felony or misdemeanor theft or resisting apprehension after such theft.

This change aims to clarify and expand the legal framework surrounding robbery, ensuring that individuals who create a threatening environment, even without direct physical force, can still be prosecuted for robbery. The inclusion of the phrase regarding the perception of imminent physical force emphasizes the importance of the victim's perspective in determining the severity of the offense.

Statutes affected:
SB 512: 5-12-102(a)