Yes, Arizona is a Castle Doctrine state. The Castle Doctrine in Arizona is codified in Arizona Revised Statutes Title 13 – Criminal Code; Chapter 4 – Offenses Against the Person; Article 2 – Homicide; Section 13-418.
The statute states that a person is justified in using deadly force against another person if the person reasonably believes that the other person is committing or attempting to commit certain felonies, including first-degree murder, second-degree murder, sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault. The statute also states that the person is justified in using deadly force in self-defense or defense of another person, or to prevent a felony from being committed.
There are some limitations on the defense of the Castle Doctrine under Arizona law: the person asserting the defense must have been in fear of imminent death or great bodily harm. Additionally, the defense is not available if the person using deadly force:
- Was the initial aggressor in the deadly force encounter.
- Was engaged in criminal activity at the time of the deadly force encounter.
- Knew or should have known that his or her use of deadly force was excessive or unreasonable under the circumstances.
The Castle Doctrine in Arizona is a complex legal principle, and if you are involved in a situation where you believe you may need to use deadly force, it is important to seek legal advice from an attorney.