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Ohio's New Self-Defense Law

By Kent Scheidegger et al.

Yesterday, Cleveland's Plain Dealer Politics Blog had this post from Reginald Fields. The post discusses SB184, Ohio's new "Castle Doctrine" law. The law creates a rebuttable presumption that person acts in self-defense when he uses force against someone who has entered his home or car unlawfully or without permission. The bill was signed into law in June, but went into effect yesterday. Ohio's new law requires prosecutors and police officers to prove that a homeowner, or vehicle occupant, did not act in self-defense. According to the post, some Ohio prosecutors are against this new rule. These prosecutors view the law as a legal cover for individuals who did not actually act in self-defense -for example, a drug dealer who shot a customer when the deal "went bad...continue to full post

Full post as published by Crime and Consequences on September 09, 2008 (boomark / email).