Ark. Code Ann. § 5-2-606
This is the official text of Ark. Code Ann. § 5-2-606, part of Arkansas’s Code Ann — part of the compiled statutory law of Arkansas, published by the state as "Code Ann." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Use of physical force in defense of a person
Official statutory text
(a) (1) A person is justified in using physical force upon another person to defend himself or herself or a third person from what the person reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of unlawful physical force by that other person, and the person may use a degree of physical force that he or she reasonably believes to be necessary. (2) However, the person may not use deadly physical force except as provided in § 5-2-607 . (b) A person is not justified in using physical force upon another person if: (1) With purpose to cause physical injury or death to the other person, the person provokes the use of unlawful physical force by the other person; (2) (A) The person is the initial aggressor. (B) However, the initial aggressor's use of physical force upon another person is justifiable if: (i) The initial aggressor in good faith withdraws from the encounter and effectively communicates to the other person his or her purpose to withdraw from the encounter; and (ii) The other person continues or threatens to continue the use of unlawful physical force; or (3) The physical force involved is the product of a combat by agreement not authorized by law. (c) A person who uses or threatens to use physical force as otherwise permitted under this subchapter does not have a duty to retreat before using or threatening to use the physical force if the person is: (1) Lawfully present in the location; (2) Not engaged in criminal activity that gives rise to the need to use physical force; and (3) Not engaged in any activity in furtherance of a criminal gang, organization, or enterprise as defined under § 5-74-103 . Amended by Act 2021, No. 250,§ 1, eff. 7/28/2021. Acts 1975, No. 280, § 506; A.S.A. 1947, § 41-506; Acts 2007, No. 827, § 13.
(a) (1) A person is justified in using physical force upon another person to defend himself or herself or a third person from what the person reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of unlawful physical force by that other person, and the person may use a degree of physical force that he or she reasonably believes to be necessary. (2) However, the person may not use deadly physical force except as provided in § 5-2-607 .
(1) A person is justified in using physical force upon another person to defend himself or herself or a third person from what the person reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of unlawful physical force by that other person, and the person may use a degree of physical force that he or she reasonably believes to be necessary.
(2) However, the person may not use deadly physical force except as provided in § 5-2-607 .
(b) A person is not justified in using physical force upon another person if: (1) With purpose to cause physical injury or death to the other person, the person provokes the use of unlawful physical force by the other person; (2) (A) The person is the initial aggressor. (B) However, the initial aggressor's use of physical force upon another person is justifiable if: (i) The initial aggressor in good faith withdraws from the encounter and effectively communicates to the other person his or her purpose to withdraw from the encounter; and (ii) The other person continues or threatens to continue the use of unlawful physical force; or (3) The physical force involved is the product of a combat by agreement not authorized by law.
(1) With purpose to cause physical injury or death to the other person, the person provokes the use of unlawful physical force by the other person;
erson his or her purpose to withdraw from the encounter; and (ii) The other person continues or threatens to continue the use of unlawful physical force; or (3) The physical force involved is the product of a combat by agreement not authorized by law.
(1) With purpose to cause physical injury or death to the other person, the person provokes the use of unlawful physical force by the other person;
(2) (A) The person is the initial aggressor. (B) However, the initial aggressor's use of physical force upon another person is justifiable if: (i) The initial aggressor in good faith withdraws from the encounter and effectively communicates to the other person his or her purpose to withdraw from the encounter; and (ii) The other person continues or threatens to continue the use of unlawful physical force; or
(A) The person is the initial aggressor.
(B) However, the initial aggressor's use of physical force upon another person is justifiable if: (i) The initial aggressor in good faith withdraws from the encounter and effectively communicates to the other person his or her purpose to withdraw from the encounter; and (ii) The other person continues or threatens to continue the use of unlawful physical force; or
(i) The initial aggressor in good faith withdraws from the encounter and effectively communicates to the other person his or her purpose to withdraw from the encounter; and
(ii) The other person continues or threatens to continue the use of unlawful physical force; or
(3) The physical force involved is the product of a combat by agreement not authorized by law.
(c) A person who uses or threatens to use physical force as otherwise permitted under this subchapter does not have a duty to retreat before using or threatening to use the physical force if the person is: (1) Lawfully present in the location; (2) Not engaged in criminal activity that gives rise to the need to use physical force; and (3) Not engaged in any activity in furtherance of a criminal gang, organization, or enterprise as defined under § 5-74-103 .
(1) Lawfully present in the location;
(2) Not engaged in criminal activity that gives rise to the need to use physical force; and
(3) Not engaged in any activity in furtherance of a criminal gang, organization, or enterprise as defined under § 5-74-103 .
Amended by Act 2021, No. 250,§ 1, eff. 7/28/2021.
Acts 1975, No. 280, § 506; A.S.A. 1947, § 41-506; Acts 2007, No. 827, § 13.
(a) (1) A person is justified in using physical force upon another person to defend himself or herself or a third person from what the person reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of unlawful physical force by that other person, and the person may use a degree of physical force that he or she reasonably believes to be necessary. (2) However, the person may not use deadly physical force except as provided in § 5-2-607 .
(1) A person is justified in using physical force upon another person to defend himself or herself or a third person from what the person reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of unlawful physical force by that other person, and the person may use a degree of physical force that he or she reasonably believes to be necessary.
(2) However, the person may not use deadly physical force except as provided in § 5-2-607 .
(b) A person is not justified in using physical force upon another person if: (1) With purpose to cause physical injury or death to the other person, the person provokes the use of unlawful physical force by the other person; (2) (A) The person is the initial aggressor. (B) However, the initial aggressor's use of physical force upon another person is justifiable if: (i) The initial aggressor in good faith withdraws from the encounter and effectively communicates to the other person his or her purpose to withdraw from the encounter; and (ii) The other person continues or threatens to continue the use of unlawful physical force; or (3) The physical force involved is the product of a combat by agreement not authorized by law.
(1) With purpose to cause physical injury or death to the other person, the person provokes the use of unlawful physical force by the other person;
erson his or her purpose to withdraw from the encounter; and (ii) The other person continues or threatens to continue the use of unlawful physical force; or (3) The physical force involved is the product of a combat by agreement not authorized by law.
(1) With purpose to cause physical injury or death to the other person, the person provokes the use of unlawful physical force by the other person;
(2) (A) The person is the initial aggressor. (B) However, the initial aggressor's use of physical force upon another person is justifiable if: (i) The initial aggressor in good faith withdraws from the encounter and effectively communicates to the other person his or her purpose to withdraw from the encounter; and (ii) The other person continues or threatens to continue the use of unlawful physical force; or
(A) The person is the initial aggressor.
(B) However, the initial aggressor's use of physical force upon another person is justifiable if: (i) The initial aggressor in good faith withdraws from the encounter and effectively communicates to the other person his or her purpose to withdraw from the encounter; and (ii) The other person continues or threatens to continue the use of unlawful physical force; or
(i) The initial aggressor in good faith withdraws from the encounter and effectively communicates to the other person his or her purpose to withdraw from the encounter; and
(ii) The other person continues or threatens to continue the use of unlawful physical force; or
(3) The physical force involved is the product of a combat by agreement not authorized by law.
(c) A person who uses or threatens to use physical force as otherwise permitted under this subchapter does not have a duty to retreat before using or threatening to use the physical force if the person is: (1) Lawfully present in the location; (2) Not engaged in criminal activity that gives rise to the need to use physical force; and (3) Not engaged in any activity in furtherance of a criminal gang, organization, or enterprise as defined under § 5-74-103 .
(1) Lawfully present in the location;
(2) Not engaged in criminal activity that gives rise to the need to use physical force; and
(3) Not engaged in any activity in furtherance of a criminal gang, organization, or enterprise as defined under § 5-74-103 .
Amended by Act 2021, No. 250,§ 1, eff. 7/28/2021.
Acts 1975, No. 280, § 506; A.S.A. 1947, § 41-506; Acts 2007, No. 827, § 13.
Status: in_force
Need a lawyer in Arkansas?
Find a Arkansas lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.