
There is a lot to like about Arizona’s castle doctrine statutes. Similarly, self-defense may not be claimed by those who join a combat by agreement or who being the initial aggressor in an encounter then escalated the level of force used.Īlso, regardless of whether or not someone is inside their home, dwelling or any other occupied structure, lethal force may never be used in response to verbal threats, insults or provocations by themselves. RestrictionsĪs you might expect one may not use lethal force in defense of an occupied dwelling or any other place that a person happens to be if they are there illegally or are furthering the commission of a crime while being on the property. Similarly, the state presumes that criminal trespassing or any attempt to forcibly enter a home, domicile or other occupied structure entails the risk of death or great bodily injury, and citizens that may use lethal force in defense if required to halt such attempts. In such cases, the state presumes that the defender did indeed hold a reasonable belief of death or great bodily injury. However, the State of Arizona presumes that certain actions and various forcible felonies inherently entail the risk of death or great bodily injury to the would-be victim. This means that a person that may not use lethal force to stop and attack or action that may not result in death or great bodily injury to themselves or someone else. The only precept that citizens must be aware of is that any force utilized in self-defense, including lethal force, must be proportional to the threat. Overview of Castle Doctrine Law in ArizonaĪll of Arizona’s laws concerning self-defense in the home, at a place of business or in any other place or a person has a legal, lawful right to be are entirely straightforward. The State of Arizona also justifies the use of lethal force to halt criminal trespass and other attempted or in progress forcible entry of an occupied dwelling.The use of lethal force in defense of oneself is justified so long as it is done to stop an imminent threat of death or great bodily injury.

Citizens that are forced to use lethal force in defense of themselves or someone else have no obligation under the law to retreat if they are anywhere they have a legal, lawful right to be, particularly in their own home or place of business.
