Duty to Retreat

In many jurisdictions, individuals have a duty to retreat or seek safety if they can do so safely before using deadly force. This is known as the “duty to retreat” doctrine. In contrast, “stand your ground” laws, which exist in some states, allow individuals to use deadly force in self-defense without a duty to retreat if they are lawfully present in a location. As of this writing, 13 states have Duty to Retreat laws.