Iowa legal term
Reasonable force in Iowa Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Iowa legislative session
In Iowa criminal law, “Reasonable force” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Iowa criminal code.
What does “Reasonable force” mean in Iowa criminal law?
“Reasonable force” means that force and no more which a reasonable person, in like circumstances, would judge to be necessary to prevent an injury or loss and can include deadly force if it is reasonable to believe that such force is necessary to avoid injury or risk to one’s life or safety or the life or safety of another, or it is reasonable to believe that such force is necessary to resist a like force or threat. 2. (Iowa Code § 704.1)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.