Kansas Self Defense Attorney

Whether you use deadly or non-deadly force, you must first have a “reasonable belief” that such force is “necessary.” Second, the level of force used must be “reasonable.”

A “reasonable belief” requires: 1) a subjective, mental belief by you, and 2) actual facts supporting your belief.

Consider two examples, each is lacking an essential element:

The shooter is fearfully walking through a dark alley. The cook pops out (emptying the trash) and is shot immediately. Here, the shooter lacked “reasonable belief.” Despite having the correct mental belief, there were no facts supporting their fear.

Your best friend is jokingly waiving a knife at you. Here, despite the fact that there's a knife being waived in your face, you don’t believe you’re in danger.

The "duty to retreat" is a legal principle that requires a person to attempt to retreat or withdraw from a confrontation before using force in self-defense.

The duty to retreat is based on the idea that the use of force should always be a last resort and that a person should try to avoid violence whenever possible.

The extent of the duty to retreat varies depending on the jurisdiction and specific circumstances.

“Stand your ground" laws, eliminate the duty to retreat and allow a person to use force in self-defense when they are in a place where they have a legal right to be and they reasonably believe that they are in imminent danger of bodily harm or death.

"Stand your ground" laws, also known as "no duty to retreat" laws, refer to laws that eliminate the legal requirement for an individual to retreat before using force in self-defense. In states with "stand your ground" laws, you are allowed to use force in self-defense when they are in a place where they have a legal right to be and they reasonably believe that they are in imminent danger of bodily harm or death. This means that an individual does not have to try to retreat or flee from a dangerous situation before using force to protect themselves.

In Kansas, the Stand Your Ground law states that a person does not have a duty to retreat before using force in self-defense if they are in a place where they have a legal right to be. The law also states that a person has the right to defend themselves against force or threatened force, whether in the home or outside of the home. In addition, a person is allowed to use deadly force if they reasonably believe that the use of deadly force is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to themselves or another person.

It's important to note that even with Stand Your Ground laws, the use of force in self-defense must still be reasonable under the circumstances. An individual cannot use excessive force or continue to use force after the threat has ended, and the individual can't claim self-defense if they were the initial aggressor. A criminal defense attorney can help you navigate the laws and build a defense if you are charged with a crime involving self-defense.

Kansas’ “castle doctrine” is broad applying in your home, occupied vehicle, or place of business.

The "castle doctrine" is a legal principle that gives people the right to use deadly force to defend their home and family without a duty to retreat. The principle is based on the idea that a person's home is their "castle" and they have the right to protect it from intruders.

The specific laws and application of the castle doctrine vary depending on the jurisdiction, but generally, it allows homeowners to use deadly force against an intruder if they reasonably believe that the intruder poses a threat of death or serious bodily harm to themselves or their family. Some states also extend the castle doctrine to include property like a car or workplace.

Kansas’ castle doctrine creates a presumption, that when a self-defense situation arises, in your home, occupied vehicle, or workplace, you’re presumed to have a reasonable belief of death or great bodily harm.

Kansas’ castle doctrine cannot be claimed if the other person was lawfully in that location. For example, a roommate.

The "initial aggressor rule" is a legal principle that applies to self-defense claims. It states that a person who initiates a confrontation or aggression cannot claim self-defense if the situation escalates to the point of requiring the use of force. In other words, if a person starts a fight, they cannot later claim self-defense if their opponent fights back. This rule is in place to prevent individuals from using self-defense as a way to justify aggressive or illegal behavior. However, the initial aggressor rule is not absolute and the person who initiated the confrontation can still claim self-defense if they can show that they withdrew from the confrontation, effectively ended the fight, and their opponent continued to threaten or attack them.

It is also worth noting that the initial aggressor rule can be a bit complicated in certain scenarios, such as when both parties are involved in mutual fight, or when one party is defending themselves from an unprovoked attack. In these cases, the court will consider all the evidence and circumstances to determine who was the initial aggressor, and if the use of force in self-defense was reasonable. This is where an experienced criminal defense attorney can help you to build a strong defense and to present evidence that supports your self-defense claim.

In some jurisdictions, police officers involved in incidents where deadly force is used are given a "cooling off" period before they are required to give a statement. This period is typically referred to as a "48-hour rule" or "72-hour rule" and is intended to allow the officer time to collect their thoughts, consult with legal counsel and to ensure the accuracy and completeness of their statement.

It's important to note that the specific rules and regulations regarding the delay of a statement from a police officer may vary by jurisdiction, and it's best to consult with a legal professional in your area to understand the specific laws and regulations in your state or country. Additionally, in some jurisdictions, the rule may only apply to the officer who used the force, and not to all officers present during the incident.

It's also important to note that the rule is not a privilege but rather a right of the officer, and it's up to the officer to decide whether they want to wait before giving a statement or not.

It's also worth mentioning that the use of force by the police is subject to review and investigation by the department and the jurisdiction, even if the officer did not give a statement right away.