A Smartphone App for the 99 Percent

By Chuck Sudo in News on Oct 27, 2011 4:30PM

With a rising number of Occupy Chicago protesters opting to be arrested for civil disobedience in Grant Park on the weekends, what's the best way to let friends and loved ones know they're sitting in a jail cell waiting to be bonded out?

Say hello to "I've Been Arrested," an Android-based app that allows a user to blast their status fighting the law to everyone. It's free and CNET gives it a four-star rating.

Just initially enter a custom message and some SMS-ready numbers to contact in the event of your arrest. Then, as you're about to be corralled into the back of a squad car, fire the app up and long-press the bull's-eye for 2 seconds. From there, you can rest assured that your message will be sent to the appropriate contacts.

CNET also notes the app can be used as a fast communication tool for things other than being arrested, but a lack of Twitter and Facebook support keeps it from getting that fifth star.

And you'll hopefully be bailed out of jail while iPhone users get to stew in their cells a while.