Under justification, when may a person use force?

• A. If reasonably believes necessary to defend self or others from imminent unlawful force and is not the initial aggressor, with no duty to retreat in home
• B. Only if the other person uses deadly force
• C. Never, force is always unlawful
• D. You must retreat before using force in all situations

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that self-defense or defense of others is a justification that allows using force when you reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent imminent unlawful harm. The threat must be immediate, and the force used must be proportionate to the danger faced. You cannot claim this defense if you were the initial aggressor, unless you withdraw and communicate that withdrawal and the other party continues to threaten you. In your own home, there is no duty to retreat, so you may use reasonable force to defend yourself or others against an intruder.