 PART IV: HOW THEY FAREDIn the fourth part of this series on Americans arrested abroad, we’ll be studying two cases of American citizens who ended up incarcerated far from home. One has a happy ending, one has a tragic one. But the message remains clear: when you go to a country with significant political unrest, you’re taking a risk. Jason Rezaian: Released (Detained 1.5 years in Iran) Rezaian, an American-Iranian journalist, relocated to Iran in 2009 for work. He ended up with the coveted position of bureau chief at the Washington Post in Tehran. However, in 2014, Rezaian and his wife (an Iranian) were apprehended while leaving an elevator. Their purported crime? Being U.S. spies. Rezaian, the Iranian officials said, was the CIA’s Tehran chief.
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 Part III: Travel in a Dangerous Land—How to Protect YourselfIn our last post in this series, we covered the various countries where the justice system seems to work—and ones where it doesn’t. Many of these countries are on the U.S.’ official “Do Not Travel” list, which you can access here. However, sometimes Americans still make it to these countries because of vocation (e.g. journalists), family obligations, humanitarian work, or even just to visit. Otto Warmbier, who was detained for 17 months in North Korea and ended up losing his life, went there with a tour group run by a Chinese travel company.
If you have any choice in the matter, the safest way to avoid detainment in a potentially hostile land is to cancel your trip. But if you must head into a country where an arrest could cause more than the usual tsuris, such as one with a communist or precarious government, ensure that you make it back home by taking a few precautions.  PART II: DON'T GET ARRESTED IN THESE COUNTRIESIn early 2019, there were about 3,000 Americans being held in foreign countries. Some of those Americans are, by virtue of their location, far more likely to make it home in a timely fashion. Which countries have quick and just legal systems, and which ones tend to skew the judicial process?
Countries that Return Americans As you would probably guess, developed countries with democratic governments do a better job of pumping people, including Americans, through the justice system. If you’re arrested in a “first world” country such as Australia, Japan, or a Western European country, you’ll likely be treated fairly.  PART I: WHAT TO DO IF YOU’RE ARRESTED ABROADSinger Chris Brown was just arrested on drug and rape charges. This may not come as a shock to people familiar with Brown’s history—he has certainly been arrested before—but this time, there’s a big difference: He was arrested, not in L.A. or New York City, but in Paris.
While Chris Brown surely has no shortage of funds to hire a lawyer, being arrested abroad presents an entirely new set of problems for the accused. Here’s what to do if you find yourself behind bars in a foreign country. PART IV: MAKE A CHANGE Across the pond, Vice writer Oobah Butler got so fed up with a bunch of old laws that he traipsed around London breaking as many as he could in front of law enforcement. From shaking out rugs after 8 a.m. in a certain district to handling salmon under suspicious circumstances, he broke a whole slew of laws—and wasn’t arrested. When one can do something like that, it’s clear that those laws are a waste of space. This is especially true because sometimes, these crazy old laws are dusted off and used to arrest people going about their normal, acceptable 21st century lives. If you’re fed up with a silly old law in your state, check out what other concerned citizens have done to make a change.
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Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice with a legal issue, please contact a licensed attorney.
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