'Stand Your Ground' Laws: International Human Rights Law Implications

44 Pages Posted: 19 Nov 2014

See all articles by Ahmad Abuznaid

Ahmad Abuznaid

Dream Defenders

Caroline Bettinger-Lopez

University of Miami - School of Law

Charlotte Cassel

University of Miami - School of Law

Meena Jagannath

Community Justice Project, Inc.

Date Written: September 17, 2014

Abstract

Since the February 2012 killing of Trayvon Martin and other recent high-profile criminal cases, “Stand Your Ground” (“SYG”) laws in the United States have come under intense scrutiny. Florida is ground zero for the controversy. SYG laws expand the “Castle Doctrine” — a common law doctrine by which deadly force may be used in self-defense or to prevent a forcible felony when one is in the safety of one’s home — to include public places outside the home. Thus, SYG laws remove the classic common law duty to retreat in public spaces, while extending immunity from prosecution or civil suit for the use of deadly force in self-defense beyond the home. Florida’s SYG law is especially broad in this respect.

Suggested Citation

Abuznaid, Ahmad and Bettinger-Lopez, Caroline and Cassel, Charlotte and Jagannath, Meena, 'Stand Your Ground' Laws: International Human Rights Law Implications (September 17, 2014). University of Miami Law Review, Vol. 68, 1129 (2014), University of Miami Legal Studies Research Paper No. 15-3, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2524027

Ahmad Abuznaid

Dream Defenders ( email )

FL
United States

Caroline Bettinger-Lopez (Contact Author)

University of Miami - School of Law ( email )

P.O. Box 248087
Coral Gables, FL 33146
United States
305-284-5923 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.law.miami.edu/faculty/caroline-bettinger-lópez

Charlotte Cassel

University of Miami - School of Law ( email )

P.O. Box 248087
Coral Gables, FL 33146
United States

Meena Jagannath

Community Justice Project, Inc. ( email )

3000 Biscayne Blvd.
Ste 106
Miami, FL FL 33137
United States
3059077697 (Phone)
33137 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.communityjusticeproject.com

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
214
Abstract Views
1,678
Rank
258,231
PlumX Metrics