Index
Self Defense & CriminalTexas, USA

Texas Castle Doctrine & Stand Your Ground

Summary

Texas law allows you to use force (including deadly force) to protect yourself in your home, vehicle, or workplace, and you are not legally required to retreat before doing so.

Rights & Rules

  • 01.
    You have 'no duty to retreat' if you have a legal right to be in a place and aren't engaged in criminal activity.
  • 02.
    You are presumed to be acting reasonably if you use force against someone who is trying to enter your occupied home, car, or business by force.
  • 03.
    You can use deadly force to prevent serious crimes like murder, sexual assault, robbery, or kidnapping.
  • 04.
    This protection also applies to defending your property, but only in very specific 'nighttime' or 'imminent theft' scenarios.

Penalties

  • 01.
    If you use deadly force and a jury finds it was NOT immediately necessary, you can face murder or manslaughter charges.
  • 02.
    You cannot use self-defense as a legal shield if you were the one who started (provoked) the fight.

Verified Citations

Texas Penal Code Section 9.31 and 9.32

Source
"A person is justified in using deadly force... if the actor believes the deadly force is immediately necessary to protect the actor against the other's use or attempted use of unlawful deadly force..."