Defense Of Others
Justification for using force in defense of others depends on the belief that the victim deserves assistance. Early jurisdictions required the rescuer be a member of the victim’s family or superior or employee. Now, through the influence of the Model Penal Code, the interventor may come to the aid of anyone whom you believe force is needed to defend against unlawful force. Defending a stranger is risky business. You are generally allowed to utilize the same amount of force under the same rules as in self defense.Without knowing all the details of the altercation you risk defending the attacker. If you come across a situation in which one person appears to be defending themselves against another, you need to realize the circumstances may not be what they seem. One of them could be a plain clothes policeman making a lawful arrest. You could also be “burned” if you join in a domestic dispute. If you see a man punching out his female partner (wife or girlfriend) you may step in to defend her and even save her from the current beating, but when she goes back to him you may face charges for causing his injuries (even though they may be deserved) in your chivalrous effort. See domestic abuse for further information on why that may happen. So when it comes to defense of others, make sure you understand the circumstances before you step in.
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