For centuries, the law has recognized a person’s right to use deadly force to defend against an intruder who unlawfully and forcibly enters a person’s home. This common law principle—known as the castle doctrine—was generally recognized by judges and criminal prosecutors for hundreds of years, and has more recently been included in statutes enacted by many state legislatures. These statutory self-defense protections sometimes extend beyond the victim’s home and apply in other physical locations, such as occupied motor vehicles and places of employment.

For example, in 2005 Florida passed a law that expanded on the castle doctrine and included language stating that if a person is in any location he or she has a right to be—and is not engaged in an unlawful activity—the person has no duty to retreat from an attacker and has the right to stand his or her ground, meeting force with force (including deadly force) if he or she reasonably believes such force is necessary to prevent his or her own death or great bodily injury, or the death or great bodily injury of another—or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony offense. Some states include the threat of certain types of kidnappings (usually by non-family members) and the threat of sexual intercourse compelled by force or threat as justifying deadly force in self-defense.

Today, laws in at least 25 states provide that there is no duty to retreat from an attacker in any place in which the victim is lawfully present. These states include: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia. And at least ten of these states include language that such a victim may “stand his or her ground”—including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina.

Some states distinguish between a victim’s use of deadly force in the victim’s home, vehicle, or place of work—which is presumed to be reasonable to prevent death or serious bodily injury—and the use of deadly force in other locations, where a victim may have a duty to retreat before using deadly force, if the retreat can be made safely.

In addition to these statutes that provide defenses to criminal prosecutions when a victim uses force (including deadly force) in self-defense, some state statutes address the related issue of civil liability in a civil lawsuit that may be filed by a person against whom such force is used. Self-defense laws in at least 23 states provide such civil immunity under certain self-defense circumstances.

Self-defense and stand your ground laws are generally located in a state’s statutes, and usually in the penal or criminal code.

In New Jersey, the castle doctrine allows a person to use deadly force to defend themselves against an intruder in their home without the duty to retreat. This principle is rooted in common law and has been upheld by the state's legal system. However, unlike some states that have 'stand your ground' laws, New Jersey does not have a statute that explicitly states there is no duty to retreat in places outside of one's home. In New Jersey, the use of deadly force in self-defense is generally acceptable when an individual reasonably believes it is necessary to prevent death, serious bodily harm, or the commission of a forcible felony. The state's self-defense laws are primarily found in its criminal code. It is important to note that while New Jersey law provides for self-defense, it does not have a 'stand your ground' law that extends to any location where a person has a right to be, as is the case in some other states. Additionally, New Jersey law does not provide civil immunity under all self-defense circumstances, which means that individuals who use force in self-defense could potentially face a civil lawsuit. Those seeking to understand the full scope of self-defense laws in New Jersey, including any recent updates or case law interpretations, should consult with an attorney for personalized legal advice.