Iowa J.I. Crim. § 400.1 (2018)

Iowa Criminal Jury Instructions

CHAPTER 400 JUSTIFICATION

400.1 Justification – Definition – Reasonable Force – Burden Of Proof

The defendant claims [he] [she] acted with justification.

A person may use reasonable force to prevent [injury to a person, including the defendant] [the loss of defendant’s property, another’s property or public property] [the commission of a crime].

* The use of this force is known as justification.

Reasonable force is only the amount of force a reasonable person would find necessary to use under the circumstances to prevent [death] [injury] [loss of property] [completion of a forcible felony].*

A person can use deadly force against another if it is reasonable to believe that such force is necessary to avoid injury or risk to one’s life or safety or the life or safety of another, or it is reasonable to believe that such force is necessary to resist a like force or threat.**

The State must prove the defendant was not acting with justification.