South Dakota Statutes
§ 22-18-4 — Force--Defense of person.
South Dakota § 22-18-4
This text of South Dakota § 22-18-4 (Force--Defense of person.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering South Dakota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
Bluebook
S.D. Codified Laws § 22-18-4 (2026).
Text
A person is justified in using or threatening to use force, other than deadly force, against another if the person reasonably believes that using or threatening to use force is necessary to defend against the other's imminent use of unlawful force. A person who uses or threatens to use force in accordance with this section does not have a duty to retreat before using or threatening to use force.
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
Related
State v. Miskimins
435 N.W.2d 217 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1989)
State v. Bogenreif
465 N.W.2d 777 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1991)
State v. Lewis
244 N.W.2d 307 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1976)
United States v. Leon Donald Farlee
757 F.3d 810 (Eighth Circuit, 2014)
Conaty v. Solem
422 N.W.2d 102 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1988)
State v. Frey
440 N.W.2d 721 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1989)
Swedlund v. Foster
2003 SD 8 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 2003)
United States v. Lesmeister
742 F. Supp. 2d 1064 (D. South Dakota, 2010)
Legislative History
SDC 1939, § 13.2402 (3); SL 2005, ch 120, § 8; SL 2006, ch 116, § 2; SL 2021, ch 93, § 2.
Nearby Sections
15
§ 22-1-2
Definitions.§ 22-1-3
Repealed§ 22-1-5
Repealed§ 22-10-1
Riot--Violation as felony.§ 22-10-10
Repealed§ 22-10-12
Repealed§ 22-10-13
§ 22-10-13§ 22-10-17
Incitement to riot--Violation as felony.Cite This Page — Counsel Stack
Bluebook (online)
South Dakota § 22-18-4, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/statute/sd/22-18-4.