{"id":14970,"date":"2017-12-04T13:20:19","date_gmt":"2017-12-04T20:20:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/?page_id=14970"},"modified":"2022-07-07T14:47:26","modified_gmt":"2022-07-07T21:47:26","slug":"arizona-castle-doctrine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/blog\/arizona-castle-doctrine\/","title":{"rendered":"Arizona Castle Doctrine"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/h2>\n

Self-defense is justified in cases where a person feels it necessary to stand up for themselves against burglary, kidnapping,<\/a> murder, or great bodily harm. This could be one’s business, residential property, or anywhere the person has a right to be.<\/p>\n

The Arizona Castle Doctrine are the laws that address the use of force when defending one’s self on one’s property. Under ARS 13-404<\/a>, people in Arizona are sometimes allowed to threaten or use physical force. This is only when they are threatened first. They must be trying to prevent serious crime or faced with unlawful physical force.<\/p>\n

Arizona Self-Defense<\/h2>\n

Arizona’s justification statute A.R.S. \u00c2\u00a7 13-404 permits an individual to act in self-defense in some circumstances. But, the law doesn’t allow the use of unlimited physical force. You’re only allowed to use force to an extent where a reasonable person would deem it necessary to protect against unlawful force. For example, if someone hits you, you are allowed to use enough force against them to stop them from hitting you. But, you cannot hit them to the ground and continue punching or kicking them.<\/p>\n

Arizona Deadly Physical Force<\/h2>\n

Deadly force is the intensity that can cause serious physical injury or death. Tire irons, baseball bats, knives, and guns are all weapons that can cause serious physical injury. That includes serious impairment of health and permanent disfigurement. It also applies to anything that could create a reasonable risk of death.<\/p>\n

>You are only justified in using deadly physical force in certain cases. You can use it against another person threatening or using unlawful deadly physical force on you or your loved one. But, you cannot use deadly physical force against someone who is not using non-deadly physical force.<\/p>\n

When Deadly Physical Force Is Never Justified<\/h2>\n

There are scenarios when you are not justified to use deadly physical force. These cases include the following:<\/p>\n