Illinois § 7-4 Use of force by aggressor

Illinois Statutes

§ 7-4 — Use of force by aggressor

Illinois § 7-4

JurisdictionIllinois

TopicRIGHTS AND REMEDIES

Ch. 720CRIMINAL OFFENSES

Act 720 ILCS 5/Criminal Code of 2012.

Art.Title II - Principles Of Criminal Liability

This text of Illinois § 7-4 (Use of force by aggressor) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

720 Ill. Comp. Stat. 7-4 (2026).

Text

The justification described in the preceding Sections of this Article is not available to a person who:

(a)is attempting to commit, committing, or escaping after the commission of, a forcible felony; or (b) initially provokes the use of force against himself, with the intent to use such force as an excuse to inflict bodily harm upon the assailant; or (c) otherwise initially provokes the use of force against himself, unless:

(1)such force is so great that he reasonably believes that he is in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm, and that he has exhausted every reasonable means to escape such danger other than the use of force which is likely to cause death or great bodily harm to the assailant; or (2) in good faith, he withdraws from physical contact with the assailant and indica

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The justification described in the preceding Sections of this Article is not available to a person who: (a) is attempting to commit, committing, or escaping after the commission of, a forcible felony; or (b) initially provokes the use of force against himself, with the intent to use such force as an excuse to inflict bodily harm upon the assailant; or (c) otherwise initially provokes the use of force against himself, unless: (1) such force is so great that he reasonably believes that he is in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm, and that he has exhausted every reasonable means to escape such danger other than the use of force which is likely to cause death or great bodily harm to the assailant; or (2) in good faith, he withdraws from physical contact with the assailant and indicates clearly to the assailant that he desires to withdraw and terminate the use of force, but the assailant continues or resumes the use of force.