Self Defense

A person is justified in threatening or using force when and to the extent the person reasonably believes it is necessary to defend against the imminent use of unlawful force. Deadly force is justified only to prevent death or serious bodily injury from imminent unlawful force, or to prevent a forcible felony.

• There is no duty to retreat from a place where the person lawfully entered or remained, and not retreating is not a factor in whether the person acted reasonably.
• The justification is not available to someone who provoked the force as an excuse to hurt the other person, who was committing or fleeing a felony, or who was the aggressor or in combat by agreement and did not withdraw and say so.
• In judging imminence or reasonableness, the trier of fact may consider the danger and how immediate it was, the other person's prior violent acts, and any pattern of abuse in the relationship.

• §Utah Code 76-2-402StatuteForce in defense of person -- Forcible felony definedOpens le.utah.gov ↗

Force is justified to prevent or end an unlawful entry into a person's vehicle, or an unlawful entry into or attack on their home or place of business or employment. A person who uses force against an unlawful entry into the home made by force, violently, by stealth, or to commit a felony is presumed to have acted reasonably.

• §Utah Code 76-2-405StatuteForce or deadly force in defense of habitation, vehicle, or place of business or employmentOpens le.utah.gov ↗

Deadly force in defense of another person on real property is covered separately, and applies against a forcible or violent trespass aimed at violence or a forcible felony against someone there.

• §Utah Code 76-2-407StatuteDeadly force in defense of individuals on real propertyOpens le.utah.gov ↗