Criminal Defenses In Texas: Understanding Self-Defense

What Is Self Defense In Texas?

Self-defense is a legal defense against a violent crime. It justifies a defendant’s use of force against another person, on the basis they were protecting themselves against an imminent threat of harm or death.

The defense attorneys at The Lowe Law Office, PLLC understand how challenging it is to be facing criminal charges in Texas. Is self-defense the appropriate defense for you? The specific requirements and restrictions to apply self-defense in criminal cases can vary between states. Some common concepts are explained below, and by calling us at (817) 660-7601, we can explain more during a Free Consultation.

Imminent Threat

Self-defense usually requires the defendant to be in fear of immediate harm. This harm could be a verbal or actual threat of physical harm, although offensive words alone are not enough. Once the threat ends, the harm is no longer imminent and the defendant cannot rely on self-defense.

Reasonable Fear Of Harm

The defendant’s fear of harm must also be reasonable. To assess this, the jury considers whether an ordinary and reasonable person in the same situation would have also believed there was an imminent threat of harm. If the answer is no, then self-defense does not apply, although imperfect self-defense may be available to the defendant.

Proportionate Response

The defendant’s use of force cannot be excessive, it must be proportionate to the threat. For example, if a victim raises their hand to slap a defendant and the defendant shoots at them, this would be an excessive response. For lethal force to be proportionate and therefore justified, the defendant usually must be in fear of death.

Duty To Retreat

In Texas, there is No Duty to Retreat. Some states require a defendant to attempt to escape the harm before resorting to force. In Texas, there is no such duty to try to escape before using force, or deadly force when appropriate.

Castle Doctrine

The castle doctrine permits a person to use potentially lethal force when at home to protect themselves and others. In general, you can only use deadly force to protect life, not property. The law on Self-Defense and the Castle Doctrine can be complex, so always consult a qualified defense attorney whenever you have a question.

Stand Your Ground

Other states, like Texas, have removed the duty to retreat requirement entirely. These states give the defendant the right to “stand their ground” and resort to using force if they’re being threatened or assaulted, even in a public place, without first attempting to escape the harm.

Burden Of Proof For Texas Self-Defense Claim

Self-defense is an affirmative defense. This means the defendant admits to doing the violent act but argues there was a legal justification for it. How, and to what level, a defendant needs to do this varies between states.

In criminal cases, the onus is on the prosecution to prove each element of an offense beyond a reasonable doubt. In some states, if a defendant wants to argue self-defense, the burden of proof moves to them to prove self-defense by a “preponderance of the evidence” (i.e. it is more likely true than not).

Other states only require the defendant to raise self-defense and the burden then shifts back to the prosecution to prove the defendant did not act in self-defense.

By calling The Lowe Law Office, PLLC at (817) 678-5080 and scheduling a Free Consultation, we can further explain self defense as an appropriate tool for defending against any possible criminal charges.