Self-Defense Basics
This defense allows a person to use force to protect themselves from unlawful harm.
What is self-defense?
In some states, a person must do this before using deadly force if safely possible.
What is retreat?
This defense allows force to protect another person from harm.
What is defense of others?
This defense allows non-deadly force to protect possessions.
What is defense of property?
Police may use reasonable force to do this.
What is make an arrest?
Self-defense requires the threat to be this type of danger.
What is imminent danger?
These laws remove the duty to retreat in public places if the person is lawfully present.
What are Stand Your Ground laws?
Force used to defend others must meet the same requirement as self-defense regarding force level.
What is proportional/reasonable force?
Deadly force is generally NOT allowed solely to protect this.
What is property?
Deadly force by police is restricted under this Supreme Court case.
What is Tennessee v. Garner?
The amount of force used in self-defense must be this.
What is reasonable or proportional force?
This doctrine allows people to use deadly force in their home without retreating.
What is the Castle Doctrine?
Under modern rules, the defender must have this belief about the person being protected.
What is a reasonable belief they are in danger?
This device (like a spring gun) is illegal if it can cause serious injury to trespassers.
What is a mechanical device or trap?
This standard determines if police force was lawful from an objective perspective.
What is objective reasonableness?
Deadly force is usually only justified when facing this level of threat.
What is threat of death or serious bodily harm?
The key factor courts examine when deciding if retreat was required.
What is whether safe escape was possible?
Older law required the person defended to actually have the right to self-defense. This was called this rule.
What is the alter ego rule?
Force must stop once this happens during defense of property.
What is the threat ends or property is secured?
Force must be evaluated from the perspective of this person at the scene.
What is a reasonable officer?
This rule says a person cannot claim self-defense if they were the initial aggressor.
What is the aggressor rule?
States that require retreat follow this traditional common law principle.
What is the duty to retreat doctrine?
If the belief about danger is reasonable but mistaken, the defense may still be valid under this standard.
What is the reasonable belief standard?
The law values this more than property when limiting use of force.
What is human life?
Police may use deadly force when the suspect poses this type of threat.
What is a significant threat of death or serious injury?