South Dakota statute
SDCL § 22-18-4.1 — Deadly 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 § 22-18-4.1
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 deadly force if the person reasonably believes that using or threatening to use deadly force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself, herself, or another, or to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony.
A person who uses or threatens to use deadly force in accordance with this section does not have a duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground, if the person using or threatening to use the deadly force is:
(1) Not engaged in a criminal activity; and
(2) In a place where the person has a right to be.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.