Examples of Criminal Defenses: Self-Defense, Duress, Necessity

📚 Quick Study Guide

• ⚖️ Self-Defense: Justifiable use of force to protect oneself from imminent harm. The force used must be proportionate to the threat.
• 😟 Duress: Committing a crime because you were coerced or threatened with immediate danger. The threat must be serious and imminent.
• 🚨 Necessity: Committing a crime to prevent a greater harm from occurring. This defense typically requires that no reasonable legal alternative existed.

Practice Quiz

1. What is the key element that justifies a self-defense claim?
   1. A) The intent to harm the attacker.
   2. B) The use of excessive force.
   3. C) A reasonable belief of imminent harm.
   4. D) The desire for revenge.
2. In a duress defense, what kind of threat must the defendant face?
   1. A) A past threat.
   2. B) A financial threat.
   3. C) An imminent threat of serious bodily harm or death.
   4. D) A vague threat with no specific details.
3. Which defense involves committing a crime to prevent a greater harm?
   1. A) Self-defense
   2. B) Duress
   3. C) Necessity
   4. D) Insanity
4. What is a crucial requirement for the necessity defense to be valid?
   1. A) The crime committed must be more serious than the harm avoided.
   2. B) The defendant must have enjoyed committing the crime.
   3. C) No reasonable legal alternative must have existed.
   4. D) The defendant must have acted out of greed.
5. If someone uses force in self-defense that is significantly greater than the threat they faced, what could happen?
   1. A) Their self-defense claim will still be valid.
   2. B) They might be charged with a crime.
   3. C) They will receive an award for bravery.
   4. D) They will be immune from prosecution.
6. In which of the following scenarios would the duress defense likely be applicable?
   1. A) Robbing a bank to pay off gambling debts.
   2. B) Stealing food to feed a hungry family, without being threatened by anyone.
   3. C) Committing arson after being threatened with harm to your family if you don't.
   4. D) Evading taxes to save money for retirement.
7. Which of the following is NOT a core element of self-defense?
   1. A) Imminent threat
   2. B) Reasonable belief
   3. C) Proportionality of force
   4. D) Retaliation