Self Defense in Florida

Our Jacksonville Criminal Defense Law Firm has represented many people charged with violent crimes, such as Domestic Battery, Aggravated Battery, Simple Battery, and Assault. When someone is arrested for a violent crime, the defense of self-defense may be an issue.

In Florida, any person who is not engaged in illegal activity and who is attached in any place where he or she has a right to be has no duty to retreat. That person has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force. This includes deadly force if he or she reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.

Reasonable fear of “great bodily harm” is sufficient to justify the use of deadly force when the person against whom the force was used was in the process of illegally and forcefully entering, or had illegally and forcefully entered, a home or occupied car, or if that person had removed or was attempting to remove another against that person’s will from a home or occupied car.

If you have been arrested for a violent crime and believe you were defending yourself, you should contact a Jacksonville Self Defense Attorney to discuss your rights.