South Dakota statute
SDCL § 22-18-4 — Force--Defense of person
Current through text effective June 30, 2026 (through the 2025 Regular Session)
Part of Chapter 18: Assaults And Personal Injuries, South Dakota Codified Laws.
Full text of SDCL § 22-18-4
Statutory text current through the text effective June 30, 2026 (through the 2025 Regular Session). This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of South Dakota.
A person is justified in using or threatening to use force, other than deadly force, against another if the person reasonably believes that using or threatening to use force is necessary to defend against the other's imminent use of unlawful force.
A person who uses or threatens to use force in accordance with this section does not have a duty to retreat before using or threatening to use force.
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This reference is informational and is not legal advice.