Use of force to protect person or property
Sec. 2. (a) A person is justified in using reasonable force against
another person to protect the person or a third person from what the
person reasonably believes to be the imminent use of unlawful force.
However, a person is justified in using deadly force only if the
person reasonably believes that that force is necessary to prevent
serious bodily injury to the person or a third person or the
commission of a forcible felony. No person in this state shall be
placed in legal jeopardy of any kind whatsoever for protecting the
person or a third person by reasonable means necessary.
(b) A person is justified in using reasonable force, including
deadly force, against another person if the person reasonably believes
that the force is necessary to prevent or terminate the other person's
unlawful entry of or attack on the person's dwelling or curtilage.
(c) With respect to property other than a dwelling or curtilage, a
person is justified in using reasonable force against another person
if the person reasonably believes that the force is necessary to
immediately prevent or terminate the other person's trespass on or
criminal interference with property lawfully in the person's
possession, lawfully in possession of a member of the person's
immediate family, or belonging to a person whose property the
person has authority to protect. However, a person is not justified in
using deadly force unless that force is justified under subsection (a).
(d) A person is justified in using reasonable force, including
deadly force, against another person if the person reasonably believes
that the force is necessary to prevent or stop the other person from
hijacking, attempting to hijack, or otherwise seizing or attempting to
seize unlawful control of an aircraft in flight. For purposes of this
subsection, an aircraft is considered to be in flight while the aircraft
is:
(1) on the ground in Indiana:
(A) after the doors of the aircraft are closed for takeoff; and
(B) until the aircraft takes off;
(2) in the airspace above Indiana; or
(3) on the ground in Indiana:
(A) after the aircraft lands; and
(B) before the doors of the aircraft are opened after landing.
(e) Notwithstanding subsections (a), (b), and (c), a person is not
justified in using force if:
(1) the person is committing or is escaping after the commission
of a crime;
(2) the person provokes unlawful action by another person with
intent to cause bodily injury to the other person; or
(3) the person has entered into combat with another person or
is the initial aggressor unless the person withdraws from the
encounter and communicates to the other person the intent to do
so and the other person nevertheless continues or threatens to
continue unlawful action.
(f) Notwithstanding subsection (d), a person is not justified in
using force if the person:
(1) is committing, or is escaping after the commission of, a
crime;
(2) provokes unlawful action by another person, with intent to
cause bodily injury to the other person; or
(3) continues to combat another person after the other person
withdraws from the encounter and communicates the other
person's intent to stop hijacking, attempting to hijack, or
otherwise seizing or attempting to seize unlawful control of an
aircraft in flight.
As added by Acts 1976, P.L.148, SEC.1. Amended by Acts 1977,
P.L.340, SEC.8; Acts 1979, P.L.297, SEC.1; P.L.59-2002, SEC.1.
Last modified: May 24, 2006