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Most people assume that if they act in self-defense, they will not face criminal charges. However, in Michigan, even when someone believes they were acting in self-defense or to protect others, they can still be arrested and prosecuted. This can be confusing and frightening, especially for individuals with no prior criminal history.
At Ben Hall Law, our East Lansing criminal defense attorneys represent clients who are charged with crimes after using force they believed was necessary in self-defense. We help clarify what Michigan law states about self-defense and build strong defenses based on the facts and the applicable legal thresholds.
Michigan recognizes the right to use force in self-defense or to defend others from harm. However, the law sets specific conditions that must be met for self-defense to be legally justified.
These include:
In cases involving deadly force, Michigan’s Self-Defense Act also allows individuals to use force without a duty to retreat if they are in a place where they have a legal right to be. This is sometimes referred to as Michigan’s “Stand Your Ground” law.
Even when all of these conditions seem to apply, people are still charged with assault, aggravated assault, or even homicide after defending themselves.
This can happen for several reasons:
Sometimes, the mere fact that someone used a weapon—even legally—can lead to an assumption of guilt rather than a presumption of protection.
When facing charges for using force in self-defense, it is crucial to have experienced legal representation. At Ben Hall Law, we focus on collecting evidence that supports your right to protect yourself.
This includes:
We also examine whether your actions fell within the protections of the Self-Defense Act and challenge any claims that you provoked or prolonged the confrontation.
Being arrested for defending yourself is a shock that no one expects. However, the law can be complex, and the interpretation of self-defense varies from case to case. If you are facing criminal charges after an incident involving self-defense, call 877-BEN-HALL (517-798-5801) or contact us online right away. Our skilled Michigan criminal defense attorneys are here to protect your rights, tell your side of the story, and fight for your freedom.
Benjamin J. Hall has proudly served both his community and country. He spent 5 years in the Marine Corps, including a tour in Iraq, and later worked nearly 10 years in law enforcement while attending law school. Ben has also been featured in local and national media, sharing insights on Michigan’s child protective services and offering a veteran’s perspective on 9/11.
“Mr. Hall was a huge help. Being a former police officer and a former prosecutor was evident in his knowledge of both traffic and criminal laws. Even when I was willing to accept an initial plea deal, he knew that there was so little evidence against me that we should counter the offer. I went from a potential criminal case to a fine and 0 points. I could not be happier with my outcome. Thank you Mr. Hall!”
Anonymous“I had an excellent experience with this law office. Ben Hall was able to handle my situation promptly and thoroughly, I was thankful we were able to avoided the hassle of going to court. I was looking for housing and if that isn’t an overwhelming task in itself, once I found a place that had vacancies they did not want to allow my support dog and the lady responsible for processing my application began sending me in circles and improperly handled the application process. It was to the point I didn’t think I was going to get housing when I contacted Ben Hall. He dove right in and explained to me the process and options and he guided me how to proceed and also contacted the housing development and let them know what their options were and how this was going to go if they continued to unjustly process my application… I received housing promptly with no further issues! So thankful for this option to pay such a minimal fee to have a lawyer in your corner and build a relationship with them. In a world were nothing is for sure it is a comfort to have such ease of access with this law office.”
Melinda“Ben was very generous with his time and expertise. He asked straightforward questions and offered excellent options to meet our objectives. Amazing turn around on short deadlines. We needed a legal opinion dealing with a conflict of interest on a local school board. WOW! Ben really understood the issues andbour concerns. He produced an amazing 8 page opinion in in a weeks time. And he worked with us on minimizing legal fees.”
DaveMost people assume that if they act in self-defense, they
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