Self-Defense and the Texas Castle Doctrine

The Texas Castle Doctrine is a law that protects a person from criminal and civil liability when he or she uses lethal force to defend his or her home, family, vehicle, or place of work. This law gives a person the right to self-defense when his or her life, family's life, or property is endangered by another. There are some important details of the Castle Doctrine that specify when the person using self-defense is protected under the law. As long as the defender and the situation meet these requirements, he or she may not be criminally charged or held liable for the injury or death of the criminal.

Castle Doctrine Specifics

A person may use deadly force against another if the defender knew or had reason to believe that:

• A person had or was attempting to illegally enter the defender's home, vehicle, or place of work
• A person had or was attempting to illegally remove the defender from his or her home, vehicle, or place of work
• A person had or was attempting to commit robbery, aggravated robbery, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, aggravated kidnapping, or murder

Also, the defender must not have provoked the intruder and must not have been committing a crime when the lethal force was used. If you acted in self-defense with lethal force to protect yourself or your loved ones from a burglar or attacker, the use of force may be justified under the Castle Doctrine and you may be exempt from criminal or civil liability.

Contact Us

If you have been arrested or charged with using lethal force in self-defense, contact Austin criminal lawyer Ian Inglis today at 512-472-1950 for assistance with your case.