• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Sills Law Firm, LLC

Connecticut Criminal & DUI Defense Law Firm located in Hartford & Waterbury

Schedule Consultation
CALL TO SET UP YOUR FREE CONSULTATION 860.524.8118
MENUMENU
  • Home
  • Our Team
      • Jonathan Sills
      • Ashley P. Carbray
      • Kathryn R. Sylvester
      • Angelise Maldonado
  • Criminal Defense
      • Appeals
      • Assault
      • Domestic Violence
      • Drug Crimes
      • DUI
      • Expungements
      • Juvenile Crimes
      • Probation Violations
      • Property Crimes
      • Sex Crimes
      • Theft Crimes
      • Traffic Tickets & Infractions
      • Violent Crimes
      • Weapon Crimes
      • White Collar Crimes
  • DUI
      • Chemical BAC Tests
      • Commercial Driver DUI
      • DMV Hearings
      • DUI Penalties
      • Field Sobriety Tests
      • License Restoration Hearings
      • License Suspension
      • Marijuana DUI
      • Multiple DUI
      • Out of State DUI
      • Refusing BAC Test
  • FAQs
      • DUI
      • Your Rights
      • Criminal Process
      • Bail & Bond
      • Choosing the Right Attorney
      • Probation
      • Criminal Sentencing
  • Office Locations
      • Hartford
      • Waterbury
  • Blog
      • 2023
      • 2022
      • 2021
      • 2020
      • 2019
      • 2018
      • 2017
      • 2016
      • 2015
  • Case Results
  • Contact Us
  • Menu
  • Attorneys
  • Call
  • FAQ
  • Contact

Assault Or Self Defense

By The Sills Law Firm | October 9, 2017

Share

The law protects your right to defend yourself against harm, but the line can be thin. Yes, you’re allowed to use physical force to protect yourself and others, but only in limited circumstances. This can be an especially tough thing to moderate, because these situations tend to happen in a blur and when emotions are generally high. Sadly, your act of self-defense can be misconstrued as assault in the eyes of the law and could land you in some hot water.

What Is Considered Self-Defense?

According to C.G.S. § 53a-19, you are justified in using reasonable physical force upon another person to defend yourself or another person from what you reasonably believe is the use or imminent use of physical force. Deadly physical force can only be used if you reasonably believe the assailant is using or imminently going to use deadly physical force or the attacker is inflicting or going to imminently inflict substantial bodily harm to you or another person or persons.

Unfortunately, what is considered “reasonable” force during self-defense is initially up to the police and prosecutors, based on preliminary evidence and potential witnesses. Since it’s open to interpretation, you need an experienced self-defense attorney to help prove that your self-defense is justifiable and reasonable in proportion to the amount of force threatened against you.

Assault

If your self-defense case is thrown out and replaced with an assault charge, you can face some serious penalties. Assault in the third degree, the least serious of assault charges, can land you in prison for up to a year and with up to a $2,000 fine. With assault in the first degree, in which someone is seriously injured with a weapon, you can face up to 20 years in prison (5 minimum) and up to $15,000 in fines.

Contact Our Criminal Defense Lawyers Today

If you were arrested for assault, but believe you were defending yourself, please contact our Connecticut criminal defense attorneys at The Sills Law Firm. Our team of experienced lawyers can look closely at your case and help you build a strong defense.

Call (860) 524-8118 or contact us online to speak with an attorney.

Contact Us

"*" indicates required fields

Name*

Primary Sidebar

How to Get My License Back After a DUI in CT

January 24, 2023

… Read More about How to Get My License Back After a DUI in CT

How to Prove Innocence When Falsely Accused of Domestic Violence

November 23, 2022

… Read More about How to Prove Innocence When Falsely Accused of Domestic Violence

What Is the Maximum for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs in CT?

November 9, 2022

… Read More about What Is the Maximum for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs in CT?

What to Expect with a 1st Offense DUI in CT

September 29, 2022

… Read More about What to Expect with a 1st Offense DUI in CT

Footer

Quick Links:

  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Leave Us a Review
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map
Hartford
645 Farmington Avenue,
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 524-8118
Map & Directions [+]
Waterbury
182 Grand Street, Suite 211
Waterbury, CT 06702
(203) 591-1935
Map & Directions [+]
(860) 524-8118
  • f
  • t
  • g
  • i

The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

© 2020 All Rights Reserved.

  • Home
  • Our Team
    • Kathryn Sylvester
    • Back
  • Criminal Defense
    • Appeals
    • Assault
    • Domestic Violence
    • Drug Crime Attorney
    • DUI
    • Expungement
    • Juvenile Criminal
    • Probation Violation
    • Property Crime
    • Sex Crimes
    • Theft Attorney
    • Traffic Tickets & Infractions
    • Violent Criminal
    • Weapon Crimes
    • White Collar Crimes
    • Back
  • DUI
    • Chemical BAC Test
    • Commercial Driver DUI
    • DMV Hearings
    • DUI Penalties
    • Field Sobriety Tests
    • License Restoration Hearings
    • License Suspension
    • Marijuana DUI
    • Multiple DUI
    • Out of State DUI
    • Refusing BAC Test
    • Back
  • FAQs
    • DUI
    • Your Rights
    • Criminal Process
    • Bail & Bond
    • Choosing the Right Attorney
    • Probation
    • Criminal Sentencing
    • Back
  • Office Locations
    • Hartford
    • Waterbury
    • Back
  • Blog
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • Back
  • Case Results
  • Contact Us